Christmas has come and gone, leaving in its wake a New Year that is right here upon us.
Each year, millions of Americans commit to resolutions for the New Year, but, sadly, most give up on their promises to lose weight, eat healthier, start exercising, stop smoking, stop drinking, to start getting out of their comfort zone more, or to start vacationing more before even executing the lifestyle. A new beginning, though, is best started with God and the Bible.
If you really want to change your life, God’s Word is filled with such wisdom, guidance, promises, and knowledge about how to do so for the better.
In Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) it tells us “You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it’s deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” This is telling us to push aside the negative attitudes, the hatred, deceitful desires, bitterness, and anger that you sometimes allow to take over your conscience and heart. Every day we should strive to do and be better in Christ Jesus, but if resolutions must be made, then make the one to accept Jesus into your Life as your Lord and Savior, believe in Him, and begin the journey to live like Him so that you will be transformed into a loving and humbled person.
Let us look to the New Year with praising and thanking God for all we still have. The year 2022, for many of us I am sure, brought with it much heartache due to the loss of loved ones, hardships (financial struggles), divorces, miscarriages, negative aftermath from the Ukraine-Russian war, Covid, RSV, flu, and all other chaos and traumas. Psalm 100:4 (NIV) states, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”
In spite of all, look toward the New Year with excited anticipation and joy in your hearts of what is to come. Always trust and have faith in God’s plan and in knowing that He is truly working it out for each one of you; He is working all things for good in your lives. Do not carry with you into the New Year what is holding you back from being successful and reaching your full potential. You will be blaming everyone else all around you for your failures and downfalls when the truth is, you are to blame for your own failures and downfalls because you didn’t listen to what God told you to do.
When He said, “Make amends with your coworker, your spouse, brother, sister, mother, or father,” you chose to be stubborn and hardened your heart instead. He says apologize, forgive, accept forgiveness, be selfless, and love unconditionally, yet you refused. So, is this still the negative way of thinking and acting that you are taking into 2023 with you? Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Let go, release, and shake off the old you and your old ways, for you are a new creature in Christ. For those of you who aren’t, it’s not too late, He’s just waiting on you with open arms to come on in. So again, if you must make a new Year’s resolution folk’s, let it be to turn to God and His Word. No matter what happened with family and friends in 2022, look forward to new beginnings in 2023 and make a coordinated effort to love others, regardless of how much you [like] them. Through God’s lens, try to see others as He would.
Remember, during times of struggle and success, it is critical to know that Jesus wants the best for all of you and He loves you. So always be sure to seek Him in the New Year as you make plans by turning to prayer, fasting, and scripture. Until next time, Happy New Year’s to you all and God Bless!!
