Doesn’t it look pretty, that bright and shiny New Year? Laid out before us without blemish, ready to share so many different things.
Well, in case you didn’t notice, there’s some carry over from the previous year. There are some consequences from the year we just spent that won’t be erased from this coming year. There may even be a burned bridge or two where we made statements we regret. That’s life as we live it.
Our world isn’t perfect. And, that’s an understatement! Best thing is, we don’t have to make it perfect and we don’t have to be perfect ourselves. We do need to improve ourselves, which should have an impact on the world around us. I don’t have to create peace in the world, but I should be able to enjoy peach in my own life. The Bible tells me so:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 KJV)
In verses just before that, Paul describes how to reach that peace:
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:4-6 KJV)
One of the favorite pastimes of New Years is resolutions – on the one hand, people set them. On the other, other people time how long it takes to break them. Some people look to new Christians to see how long it takes for them to make new mistakes. And, we do make them. We are not perfect, we’re just forgiven and we have a lot to learn. We have a good teacher:
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalms 25:4-5 KJV)
So, with the calendar change, don’t look for miracles, just daily steps in the right direction. That does take dedication, concentration and a setting of goals. Otherwise, it’s easy to follow tracks that lead away – and they look so very interesting!
Keep last year in the shadow of this bright and shiny new one. Use the roadmap to the strait gate and narrow way.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 KJV)
Such a needful post, and so many scriptures I have been reading these past few days. Have a wonderful new year!
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