As the clock winds down to the New Year, what’s on your resolution list?

Happy New Year!

It’s an expression that brings visions of celebration, hopefulness, and starting over.

You make resolutions vowing to eat right, exercise and recommit to projects you put off the year before.

But, if you have experienced enough new years, you know that things don’t always go as planned.

By about Valentine’s Day, many of your “resolutions” have turned into compromises and mediocre results at best.

Let me challenge you, this time around!

Why not consider revolutionizing your resolution list this special time of year?

How about you try to change the element of time, to the condition of your heart?

“What?” You say. “But it’s all about starting a New Year!”

True, but work with me here.

Yes, it is about starting a new year.

But, looking for resolve to be a better person takes more than simply turning the page on your wall calendar.

Look at the seasons we’ve celebrated the last couple months of the year:

• We start with thanking God for our blessings during Thanksgiving.
• Then, we acknowledge the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ by celebrating it at Christmas time.
• And finally, we get ready to start afresh with New Years Day. The day we pass from one year into a brand new one.

Yes, it’s good to give thanks.

And it’s really good to acknowledge the birth of our Savior.

But starting anew, that calls for one of the most difficult things the human species ever has to do…change our behavior!

How To Change Your Behavior When You’re Stuck In Your Ways

Take dieting for example.

You know the expression, “You are what you eat.”

If you take this literally, then I’m an In N’ Out Burger.

Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we live out the New Years resolutions we make!

I’m a carbohydrate with sugar and a pinch of salt.

I know I need to watch what I eat as I age.

But when that extra yummy slice of Red Velvet cake is saying ‘I’m here for you’, resistance is an afterthought.

Then, like all sin, I regret it later.

But to say “no” takes power.

It takes self-control.

One gift of the Holy Spirit I’m really learning to appreciate and ask for.

Saying no to your flesh is of God.

We can always do better in this area!

Jesus Is Your Savior, But Is He the Lord Of Your Life?

What is your attitude this New Year’s?

Is it about the re-do or the doing of something new?

The essential word in our annual declaration to be “Happy” is “New”.

And the authority of newness is Jesus Christ.

Jesus says is Revelation 21:5, “…Behold, I make all things new…”

If you are truly born again, then you know the change Jesus has made in your life.

This is true especially when it comes to the desires of the flesh, selfishness, loving others and learning to walk by faith.

And in this new life, we must now walk in the newness of life.

Romans 6:4 tells us, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”.

So, “…in newness of life” you walk with Jesus with a totally different view of life.

In this regard, 1 John 1:7 says,  “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin”

… and now with Christ’s cleansing, you have peace with God.

What You Can Learn From the Greatest Revolutionary of All Time

Jesus revolutionized the world by fulfilling the law of God and making a way to heaven.

“Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”- Luke 22:20

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

By His finished work at the cross, gave you access to the Father and eternal life in His presence.

“In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” – Ephesians 1:7

We are real good at looking forward to what may happen in the coming year.

But how many of us really have an eternal perspective on life?

“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18  

What freedom you have with a Biblical worldview!

The things of this world are concerning, but not defeating.

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” – Psalm 118:6 

We all could be better off if we walked into this New Year in VICTORY!

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57  

Dear friend, take to heart the “new” that is coming to you.

 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth, had passed away. Also, there was no more sea.” – Revelation 21:1 

Now this truth is something to celebrate and be “Happy” about!

Happy New Year!