REAL Renewal: Ending the Year with Light

As the year draws to a close, many of us feel the quiet weight of it all—unfinished plans, answered prayers, lingering questions, and moments we never expected to carry this long.

This is the space where REAL renewal begins.

One simple year-end ritual I love is the Yule Log. Traditionally, it represents warmth and light during the darkest days of winter. But for me, it has become a visual reminder that God is still at work—bringing light, even as one season ends and another waits to begin.

As the log is prepared, I walk through the heart work of REAL Renewal:

Reflect.

I look back on the year with honesty. Where did I grow? Where was I stretched? Where did God meet me in ways I didn’t recognize at the time?

Empty.

I intentionally release what I don’t want to carry forward—busyness, disappointment, fear, comparison. I name them and give them back to the Lord.

Align.

I realign my heart with what matters most: faith, home, peace, and purpose. I remind myself that alignment often comes quietly, not instantly.

Light.

Finally, I remember that Christ is the Light of the world. Even the smallest flame reminds us that darkness never has the final word.

Scripture reminds us:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:5 (NIV)

As you move toward the end of this year, I invite you to pause. Whether through a Yule Log, a candle, or a quiet moment with the Lord, make space for reflection and renewal. You don’t have to rush into the new year whole—you simply need to step into it willing.

May God meet you in this sacred pause.

May He renew your strength, steady your heart, and light the path ahead.

Grace and peace,
Janet from Southern Ivy Emporium