You’d think someone died when you read this title. But no. I’m actually talking about crossing over into the new year, which is most likely on many people’s minds this last week of 2024.
How do we cross over? For some, it’s a time to celebrate. For others, to mourn or be wistful. Many make resolutions, set goals, or decide on new beginnings. Gyms will be packed with the “new year, new me” people, most of whom quit coming by February. I know – I was one of them.
The crossover into a new year here in Kenya is marked by prayer. A lot of churches have a “Crossover Kesha.” A kesha is an all-night prayer meeting that many churches hold on a regular basis. The Crossover Kesha is a prayer meeting that starts at 9:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and lasts till 5:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Keshas are typically loud and boisterous. Even the smallest churches, which meet in nothing more than a shack made of corrugated iron slapped together on a wooden frame, seem to possess a powerful amplification system that blasts the worship and prayer out into the night for all to hear—whether you want to or not.
Be that as it may – the emphasis on prayer to greet the New Year is heartwarming and speaks to the passionate faith Kenyan believers have.
Jennifer and I usually take some time out during the “crossover days” to go before the Lord in listening prayer. Call it the “anti-kesha.” No loud music or prayers screamed toward heaven and no dancing. Instead, we ask the Lord to speak to us about the coming year – what to expect, what to adjust, what to focus on, what to let go of. We ask the Lord for a theme verse for the year and review the one of the year before to see in what specific ways it has guided us. We pray blessings over friends, family, and ministry.
Timelines are, of course, non-existent in heaven. To the Lord, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day (2 Peter 3:8). Yearly calendars are human inventions dating back to the Bronze Age and have gradually developed over time. God graciously works within our notions of time, even setting our lifespan in years (see Genesis 6:3). But He is by no means bound by our divisions into days, weeks, months, and years.
Yet, it is good to see the separation between old and new years as an opportunity to seek God and take stock. By the end of the year, we are often in need of spiritual refreshing. It is a healthy habit to evaluate where we are in our relationship with the Lord, in life, and in ministry.
If you get this post in time, consider a personal “crossover kesha” to greet the new year with a time of listening to God, rededication, fresh devotion, and surrender – stepping into what He has already ordained for you in the coming year. If you’re anything like us, it will be a mini-kesha. All-nighters are challenging now that nine o’clock has become the new midnight!
The length of time doesn’t matter as much as the idea of being prayerful and God-focused during our transition into 2025. After all, the times are getting harder. World affairs are becoming more complex. Everyday life seems fuller and faster, making it ever easier to become distracted and let go of the Father’s hand. Listen to his call to come closer so that you stay within the reach of His guiding voice and protecting arms.
Be blessed this New Year. Walk with Him closely and grow in grace!
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