As each year draws to a close, people often find themselves reflecting on the things they intended to achieve during the past year.
Some may look back feeling satisfied with what they accomplished, while others may feel quite dissatisfied. Typically, those who look back with satisfaction also look forward to greater accomplishments in the upcoming year.
However, the same can be true for those who feel dissatisfied with last year's achievements. These people can make a New Year's resolution to do better in the new year that lies before them.
Like most people, you have probably made New Year's resolutions to lose weight, exercise regularly, eat better, get a new job, start investments, or somehow improve your quality of life.
But do you realize that the desire to improve your life with each new year began in the heart of God?
Notice what Psalm 65:11 says from The Amplified Bible: "You crown the year with Your bounty and goodness…." What does God require of you in order to experience His abundance and blessing in the year that lies ahead?
In the same way that a crown encircles your head, so each new year can be crowned with God's abundance and goodness. The Lord promises a full and plentiful year, overflowing with a bountiful harvest and with His goodness. But if you want to experience the blessings God has planned for you in this new year, something is required on your part.
The second half of Psalm 65:11 from the New American Standard translation gives us a clue about what God requires of us: "Thou hast crowned the year with Thy bounty, and Thy paths drip with fatness."
In Old Testament times when this verse was written, fatness was a sign of personal success. And for those who didn't get enough to eat, fat was a symbol of abundance and prosperity.
Another passage that describes the word "fatness" is Numbers 13:20 (NAS). Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land to find out what kind of land it was. Upon their return, the spies were to report whether the land was "fat or lean."
The word "fat" meant it was a rich land of abundance. The spies actually described the land as flowing with milk and honey. In fact, the land was so "fat" or abundant that one cluster of grapes grown on its soil was too large for one person to carry. The spies had to carry it back on a pole between two men!
This account makes it easy to understand why fatness was a term used as a symbol of prosperity and therefore greatly to be desired.
However, if we want to experience a year of abundance and goodness, we must walk on God's path throughout the year, because only His paths "drip with fatness." In other words, we cannot expect to receive the success and prosperity God offers if we are not willing to walk in close fellowship with Him.
Notice how Ezekiel expresses a similar thought: "And I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing" (Eze. 34:26 NAS).
The places around God's habitation (and around those who stay close to His habitation) will be showered with blessing and goodness.
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