Believe it or not, here we are into a new year already. For those of you that follow this site and read the posting, I just want to thank you for taking the time to do so. I appreciate each one of you, whether you agree with what I write or not. I feel we are each entitled to make our own choices without someone condemning us or trying to force a particular view on us.
At this time of year, a lot of people take time to reflect and make new year’s resolutions, wanting to make changes and do things better. The new year is like a fresh start, a new beginning.
For me, I stopped making resolutions. First and mainly because I never keep them. Like most of us, making a resolution to do better makes sense. We want to better ourselves and do better in our life, yet like most people, a few days into the new year and the resolution has been forgotten.
Usually that makes people feel a little guilty. We want to do better, yet we fall flat on our face with our resolutions so fast.
I got to thinking about this and realized that trying to better ourselves in one sense is not a bad thing. When we want to spend more time with family, be better parents, be a better friend and treat people better, that is not a bad thing at all.
Spiritually speaking from a christian viewpoint, new year’s resolutions are something that is not needed. In Christ, he made all things new when he fulfilled the law at his death. When he arose, a New Covenant went into effect, a covenant of grace.
We no longer need to try to do better, to do more for him, to be better christians. He did everything that was needed to make us new creatures in Him. Because of his work, we are holy and righteous, we are kings and priests, our old sin nature was crucified with him and we no longer need to make resolutions to do better.
In one sense, each day is a new beginning for us, and his mercies are new every morning. Yet as far as our life in Him, each day is a day living in the Kingdom of God. Each day is a continuation of the previous day living as one with God, we, as God’s house, are now one with Him just as Christ prayed, that we might be one as he and the Father are one.
So, spiritually speaking, let’s not get caught up in the guilty feelings we have with new year’s resolutions and trying to do better for him. Let’s rest in him, knowing he has done all the work and all that is necessary for us to live pleasing to him. Let’s enjoy each new day as a day the Lord has made, and rejoice and be glad in it. Let’s live each day in the power of the Holy Spirit, showing God’s love and acceptance to all we meet during the day.
[…] over at DoneWithReligion.com posted about New Year’s resolutions and how as believers, we are already a new creation, so, what’s to resolve? His post was all the […]
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Hi Jack, thanks for the comment. What better resolution could any of us have than to look to Jesus and living daily in his kingdom.
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Thanks for this reminder! There is one thing I have been considering as a resolution of sorts, inspired by remembering Lot’s wife … simply, my posts often are a “look back” at the religious institution I have come out of moreso than the kingdom of God I am walking toward. If indeed my “eyes are fixed on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), shouldn’t my writings be more a reflection of His beauty, than once again rehashing the misery and bondage I’ve come out of?
At the same time, my heart does ache for those who are still in religious bondage, and what I write is intended to help set them free, or at least to affirm those who are struggling to get free and assure them that they are not alone.
If I do have a resolution for this year, it would be to look more toward Him and where I am bound, than stare gape-mouthed at the smoldering ruins behind me.
Happy “new creation” to you! 😉 😀
Jack
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Thanks Carol. Yes, so true, new years resolutions usually don’t work. The Spirit putting something on our heart to do is a completely different thing. I appreciate the comment.
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Happy, Healthy New Year! I don’t make new year’s resolution either, because it’s a promise of self-improvement that I can’t keep. So true that each day is a new beginning for us. I do need to pick up the phone more often and just say hello to family and friends. Even when I do that, it’s a gentle nudge from His Spirit guiding me to do so. I don’t always respond to that nudge, because in most cases the person is long winded and so much of my time is consumed. I do know people in their 80’s and 90’s who do not know how to text, and desire to Talk to another human being. I do put forth more of an effort to contact them. One day I might need that.
Rejoice in every day.
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Good word. I agree. Thanks.
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Upon reading your blog this is what came to me: the words of His mother Mary: “Do whatever He tells you.” That’s enough resolution to last the rest of my life!!! God bless you, dear Child, in 2016 and to infinity and beyond!
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Thank you. And same to you.
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Happy New Year Mike!
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