Have a New You by January 1!

How many New Year’s resolutions have you made in the past? How many have you seen come to pass? If you are like me, I do look forward to a new year with all of its opportunities and challenges. However, most years I struggle in my own strength to follow through with a commitment to change/improve an area of my life…lose weight, be more faithful in exercise, be less selfish, be more of an encourager!

Let’s agree to do it differently this year! Are you in?

Let’s begin by reviewing 2 Corinthians 5:7, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” Hang with me and let’s look at this verse phrase by phrase:

• If anyone is in Christ – I guess the first question should be “What does it mean to be “in Christ?’ This should be the hook upon which we can hang our desire to “make changes.” Most of the improvements we desire to make for a new year will only happen if we resolve to “ask the Lord” to be the One who helps us and motivates us. Read John 15:5. Meditate on the importance of being attached to the Vine.
• He is a new creation – We as humans can only create new things with materials and resources that already exist. God has the ability to create from nothing. Part of our daily discipleship should be to ask for God’s help in fulfilling the plan that he has for our lives. Live with excitement and anticipation as to what God is up to in our lives. Read Galatians 2:20.
• Old things have passed away – Does this mean that we will no longer be tempted by things in our past? Of course not! We are human. But, with the Lord’s help, we can resist temptation in His strength. We can put our mistakes behind us…as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12.)
• New things have come – What new things have come into our lives once we yield to God and His plan for us specifically? Daily trust in Him and His strength. Begin each day talking with the Lord about what He is doing in our lives to bring about His plan for us. Read Jeremiah 29:11.

So…my point? Being a new you is all about “HIM” and not about “you.” Take Him at His WORD!