A new year gives us this sense of a fresh start; another chance to do the things we failed to do the year before. A new beginning and an opportunity to" better ourselves."
Many make resolutions for the coming year to do things like lose weight, stop smoking, read the Bible more and so on. It starts off exciting and full of hope, but a few months into it, we start giving up on the resolution and the old habits return.
I think the reason for this is because we are doing these things in the flesh, not through the Spirit. The motives are often not for God's glory but merely for our own satisfaction.
I love the start of a new year and the hope it gives me for the future, but a lasting hope can only come by putting our faith in Jesus. The world will not give us a hope that will last. Making resolutions in the flesh to improve ourselves will not last.
Jesus however will not leave us n'or forsake us. His word is everlasting and He will always be our helper. As we walk with Him daily, by His grace we will become more and more like Him. His grace is everlasting and that is what we need to depend on one day at a time. With his help each day , we can reach the destination he has planned for us.
Every year is a new opportunity, but so is each day and even every hour. Setting goals is good for us. It keeps us heading towards a direction , but we need to start each morning with God and allow Him to direct us in our goals for the day.
When we try to reach goals, make sure the goal we are aiming for is God centered and not "me" centered. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and stay on the path with him.
Proverbs 4:27 - Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Wherever we are in life we need to trust God to direct our path and to meet all our needs. When things look hopeless through out this coming year... Remember all things work together for good to those who love God. Most of the time we cannot see the full picture of what is going on and God is bigger than all our troubles.
Proverbs 3:5-7- Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
God wanted us to have hope throughout each day. This hope has been placed in our hearts which is why we have the desire for a better tomorrow, a better year. Now we just need to keep Jesus in the center of all our choices everyday of the year. With our hope in Jesus we can keep running the race set before us and actually complete what we have started.
God bless you this coming year and when you cannot walk the rough roads, let Him pick you up and carry you!