Corona Devo 1773

The kick-off of a new year brings happy-hopes to many of us.  It allows for a fresh start, setting new goals, and we can look forward to things like family gatherings, holidays, vacations and milestones.

But (also) for many of us, a new year can bring fear and anxiety too. We worry about things like family and friends (or lack of them), health, finances, death...and overall uncertainty in our lives and the world.


And--if we’re honest, most of our excitement and fears for a new year (and today) center around US and OUR personal development or wellbeing.  Many of our goals, aspirations, and even worries can be driven by (superficial) pressures that revolve around us.

But...as we begin a new year, it’s the perfect time to set Godly goals! What if we made some authentic changes in 2025 to become the person that God wants us to be?




The sin (and shame) that we fell to last year can be in the rearview mirror of our life, if we will let it be. God tells us that when we come to Him we are made new in Him.

It's a new year: we can become new in Christ this year...and today!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ~2 Corinthians 5:17

Can we understand what this verse means for us today and this year?  

...God makes us NEW!



It's a new year...and we can step in to all that God calls us to be. He renews our hearts, thoughts and attitudes! Let's DO this, Lord! 

…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.   ~Ephesians 4:22-24

What does this verse mean for us? ...That we can shed our old nature (of sin) and become new with the Lord's love and salvation. Life change happens when we encounter Christ!


We can begin this year with a “Renewed Commitment” to live for the Lord, and we can start by setting goals that will grow us closer to Jesus, so that we can make positive changes in order to glorify God by living for Him and shining His light and love into others. 

  1. Read the Bible (All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  ~2 Timothy 3:16-17)

  2. Love others. (And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  ~I Corinthians 13:13)

  3. Be patient and kind. (Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  ~Ephesians 4:32)

  4. Celebrate! Let’s make it our goal to celebrate the days of this year and to rejoice and be glad, remembering each day is a gift from God. (This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."  -~Psalm 118:24)


5. Praying: Let’s make it our goal to pray daily for God’s blessing, guidance, protection and wisdom. (Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7)

6. Commit to reading your Bible and make every effort to go to church. ("Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." ~1 Timothy 4:13)

The bottom line is that God has BIG plans for us this Year! He’s just waiting for us to draw closer to Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  - Jeremiah 29:11

As we look back over this past year, we thank You, God for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. We thank You for the promise and hope of this new year. May we enter 2025 with a renewed commitment to You and to Your almighty Word, the Bible. You are our rock and our fortress, and we lift the New Year up to You. We love you, Lord!  AMEN.



Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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