Many a church leader love to name every year after their dreams and hopes. A look at one such church from 2020 reads:

2020 – My year of abundance

2021 – My year of uncommon miracles

2022 – My year of divine upliftment

2023 – My year of great breakthroughs

2024 – My year of divine acceleration.

I am waiting to see what year 2025 will be for them, perhaps another dream?

I wonder what motivates such baptism of years. And I am not sure there is ever any evaluation at the end of each year to check how many a member realized such dreams. Or could it just be another of our spiritual sedatives to mitigate dashed hopes?

Naming years did not start with the Church. The origin is traced to oriental cultures, especially the Japanese and the Chinese. One historian has this to say.

“The Jade Emperor, Chinese ruler of heaven and earth, decided it would be easier for his people to measure time if he gave them a proper calendar, called a zodiac. He decided to name each year after one of twelve animals. Each animal is associated with certain traits and characteristics. For example, people born in the Year of the Dragon are often considered to be ambitious and confident, while those born in the Year of the Rabbit may be seen as gentle and compassionate. These traits influence how individuals perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others” (www.prokala.com)

Naming years therefore could be a matter of our inert desires and expectations (faith), but it can quickly degenerate into some superstitious beliefs make us believe we have power over our years. that whatever we name a year is what it will produce?
And when it doesn’t, we either throw up another dream or reinvent the old ones?

I have no quarrel with anyone or church who chooses to name or denominate their years. My only concern is that it is always about us – our dreams, our desires and our hopes, not God’s. It is always “MY YEAR…” or “OUR YEAR…” What about the LORD’S YEAR?
I am yet to see any of our years named
“MY YEAR OF OBEDIENCE AND SACRIFICE”

EVERY YEAR, LIKE EVERY DAY, IS THE LORD’S MAKING. AND HE MAKES THEM FOR US TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN THEM – IF ONLY WE WILL HEAR HIM, OBEY HIM AND SERVE HIM (Job 36:11)

May 2025 be us a year of the Lord’s making.