Happy New Year! It's a time when lots of people desire to change their lifestyle. Many people make New Year Resolutions to achieve their goal of a better life. They make commitments to personal ideals and projects, or to abandon unhealthy habits. The only problem with attempting change through New Year resolutions is that success is based on self-will. Statistics tell us that after just 9 days there is a 75% failure rate in keeping New Year resolutions. If we think the statistics on New Year resolutions are bad news, what about the statistic that tells us that 100% of people fail to live life according to God's righteous laws? As we look at statistics like these, what hope can we have for a new year that is different from the past?
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. (Romans 6:23, Psalm 103:3-5a NLT)
We’ve just celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, the one who came to heal the broken-hearted and to set free those who are in bondage. Jesus announced the year of God’s grace to all who believe in Him. God wants to take away our spirit of despair and give us a new heart of thankful praise throughout the year. As we trust God and follow His principles, God says we will receive what we ask for, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
This is the first day of a new year and we are longing for a new beginning. If we choose to wholeheartedly surrender our will and our life into God’s care, the Holy Spirit will come to live in our hearts and we can be confident that, what God has begun, He will complete. This will be our best year yet.
Prayer: Loving God, on this New Year’s Day I choose to surrender my will and my life to Your care. Forgive me for the wrongs I have done. Heal me from all that is broken and painful in my heart. Help me to live one day at a time in Your peace and blessing. Amen
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