The New Year is upon us – out with the old and in with the new! The New Year brings many wishful greetings from family and friends of “Happy New Year!” or “May you have a bright and prosperous New Year!” What will make this year different from previous years? Certainly not wishful thinking, no matter how wishful they are. Greetings demonstrate our desires towards people but do not dictate the reality of their experiences.
Many (or most) New Year’s resolutions fail on January 1st – the chocolate cake I ate on New Years day proves that! Can I get a witness??! Resolutions, although good, can be rooted in the flesh or human effort and not the grace of God or the Gospel. We often try to muster up enough strength or willpower to keep our resolutions instead of relying on the power of Christ in us. Additionally, resolutions may deny the finished work of Christ in us, as we try to become something, instead of believing in who we are in Christ and acting in faith in God’s love. Resolutions are essentially goals and they are a good thing, but the motive and means by which we accomplish them must be aligned with the Gospel.
Can you make a Happy New Year? The answer is a big YES!
We tend to do and experience what we believe even through adversity or affliction by others. You can be happy in the midst of a storm, severe trial or even sickness. God wants our beliefs to be filled with His love, the Kingdom of Heaven and the Gospel. Why not resolve in this year to believe the Gospel? The Gospel is good news and by believing good news, you can expect your year to be filled with the goodness of God.
Here are some simple beliefs that can aid you in having a Happy New Year:
- God loves me – My Heavenly Daddy Loves Me
- The old me died in Christ – It is finished – Out with the Old!
- The new me lives in Jesus – I am a new creature – In with the New!
- All of God’s promises are Yes and Amen!
- Christ is in me – so I can overcome sin and this world!
- I have power over all the power of the enemy – run Devil! Run!
- Because Jesus is in me and Jesus never sins – I can go and sin no more.
- If I ever sin – I can confess my sin and He is faithful to forgive me.
- And again I say – My Father loves me.
Fill your New Year with the Gospel and you will indeed have a bright and prosperous New Year.
Your year will not be hit or miss or depend on unseen cosmic forces or the alignment of the planets.
So I say to you – why not choose to create a Happy New Year by believing and acting on the Gospel of Jesus Christ today?
Image Credit:Â shutterstock/marekuliasz