Happy New Year! God’s mercies are new this morning, like each morning, as we start this new year. He is doing a new thing in each of our lives. I know our family has a lot of changes coming up this year – Rob is retiring from the Army this year, going back into the IT work field, and we will be moving back to North Carolina to settle down there. Those are just a few of the many changes going on. We are looking forward to many of these changes, while also dealing with many unknowns. But we know God’s hand is in every detail and he will lead us and reveal to us what we need to know when we need it.
As I think about the new year, and how it is a fresh start in many ways, I think about how God offers each of us a fresh start when we choose to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus paid the penalty for my sins when he died on the cross and rose again, conquering death. This allows me to have a relationship with God where God no longer sees my sin because he looks at me through the blood of Jesus. Jesus stood in my place and received the punishment I deserve. God forgives my sins because of Jesus. Then he chooses to forget them and he sees me as a new creation – a brand new person. I am a completely different person than I was without Jesus, and I’m so thankful that he chose me, loves me, rescued me, redeemed me, and made me new.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“I was one way, and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between…was HIM. (One of my favorite quotes from The Chosen)
I look forward to this next year and seeing what God has in store for me as he grows me closer to him. He already knows what this year holds and nothing is a surprise to him. I will cling to him because he is good and faithful and I know he will guide us as we seek to follow his path. What will that look like? I don’t know yet. All I can do each day is choose to spend time seeking him and asking what he wants me to do that day. Then I will let him guide me one day at a time as I follow him.
What will you do with your time each day? Make the choice to spend time with Jesus. Read his word, and communicate with him through prayer. Seek him first, and he will direct your path.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” (J.R.R. Tolkien)