Did you ever wish that a new year on the calendar meant a whole new you? A fantastic version of yourself who would emerge to face the watching world on January first.
As a teen and young adult, I was reserved and thought that being introverted was an incurable illness. If only I could be bubbly and outgoing like Suzy, the blond cheerleader. “You’re so quiet,” people told me. I remember thinking that it was a judgment or condemnation.
Sometimes dissatisfaction with our lives leads to fantasies, complaints or even self-hatred. If only our New Year’s resolutions meant easy shortcuts to slim figures and fat bank accounts. If we resolve to save more but often buy non-essentials, then we will fail. If we expect to stay slim while eating “just a little” chocolate each day, then that is another fantasy. If we expect to stay close to God without reading His word, talking to Him, confessing our sins or getting support from other Christ-followers, then that is a delusion.
We see in Isaiah 43 that God doesn’t want us to dwell on the past. He wants to cleanse and heal us of it. He wants us to yield to His Spirit’s power in us to live for Him. We can’t do it on our own strength. He will transform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). When we don’t know what to do or where to turn, God will guide us and provide for us physically and spiritually. What a wonderful Daddy in heaven we have.
Unfortunately, this life is a long race to the finish line. We can’t take shortcuts in life, such as the eating and budgeting examples above, and expect to win. We cannot tell what this new year holds, but one thing we can be sure of is that Jesus is on our side. We will succeed in His eyes if we play by His rules. He tells us that loving Him back involves doing what He says to do which is obedience. This is success according to Jesus Christ. His strong and loving presence is within us. Ask the Lord for the strength to lay down your will and follow His will. He is happy to answer that prayer.
Father, please help me in this new year to follow your will for my life instead of my own. Guide me to verses in the Bible which tell me about your will for all your children. Thank you for your mighty Holy Spirit who will never leave me and loves me always. In Jesus name, Amen.
Throughout this Day: Listen to and sing along to Don Moen’s song which is based on our passage in Isaiah: “God will make a way/Where there seems to be no way/He works in ways we cannot see/He will make a way for me”
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and/or Look up and memorize some of these verses about God’s will for your life: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God~s-Will