New Year's is a time of much celebration and joy. We are leaving the previous year behind and moving on to the year to come. This can be freeing for many people, as some years are better than others. If you had a particularly challenging year last year, rest assured that a fresh start is coming, and you can leave the past behind. A new year is a new chance to start over again and adopt a new approach to life. Sometimes, this is precisely what we need when the New Year arrives: a fresh start. A new start can help us feel more hopeful. We should strive to think positively about the upcoming year, as thinking negatively or assuming the worst can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. To help prevent ourselves from becoming self-fulfilling prophecies, we need to reflect on a few Bible passages to help prepare our hearts for the upcoming New Year.  Here are five Bible passages to study, reflect upon, and pray over as you are entering the New Year. Talk with God about them, consult your Christian mentor, and seek out advice from other trusted Christians in your life as you are approaching the New Year. Think over these Bible passages in your spare time and discern what God might be trying to tell you. They all hold hope and encouragement, which is precisely what we need as we are entering a New Year. iStock/Getty Images Plus/Sergio Yoneda