Fresh Start

https://odb.org/MY/2022/01/02/fresh-start-effect

In Colossians 3:1-10, Paul speaks about the need to discard our old self and set our hearts on things above since we have been raised with Christ. For we have died and when Christ appears, we will also appear with Him in glory. Our old self has died and must remain dead, crucified, banished.

Yet we know that we are living with our old self. As much as it is dead, it is not really dead. There is a constant need to keep it crucified as we battle with sin and our own impurities and weaknesses, our anger issues, our pride, selfishness, desires etc.

As a New Year starts, we have a clean sheet of paper, a new journal with 365 days of blank pages. We write our own journal, our journey in life, our journey in the faith. We make New Year resolutions, a fresh start to things. What do we want to do this year, 2022? What’s God’s Word for us for 2022? Is God’s Word for us that we lose more weight and focus on our health issues? Eat less and exercise more? Reduce our calories intake and burn more at the same time? Eat two meals a day only and no more snacks? Fast 16 hours and only eat normally for 8? Exercise more – cardio vascular and weights? The physics of it, once we get it right, will ensure that we lose weight. Or perhaps God’s Word for us is to read His Word more, to finish the Bible this year? Instead of starting at Genesis and getting stuck at Leviticus, why don’t we start at Joshua and come back to Genesis later?

New Year’s resolution almost never succeed for a variety of reasons. But mainly because we depend on our own will power or we had set unrealistic goals like wanting to lose 20 kgs! It is always a fresh start but ending it well is what matters! Often we give up after just a few steps. But if it’s a fresh start from God, we know we have a better chance to cover more ground, to achieve more, to succeed or at least achieve much more. Why? Because with Christ on our side, we have the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ, we can always make a fresh start because of His abundant love and compassion that is renewed every morning. There is no condemnation in Christ. If we fail, we pick ourselves up and start again. Perhaps that will be the way we could achieve what God has spoken to us? This year, we will not give up. We will persevere on, we will push on. If we fall, we rise up again and we go on. If the cross is too heavy to bear, we let it go but pick it up again and walk on. Don’t retreat and run the other way. Pray for strength and endurance each day. If we fail, have a fresh start again but keep on moving. Let’s see at the end of 2022 where we are! Have we not progressed? Have we not fulfilled God’s Word for us for 2022? Spend some time this week seeking God for His Word for us for 2022 and stick to the programme!