January 1, 2023
New Year, New Beginning
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” —George Eliot
Every New Year, we experience the year ending and a new year about to begin. It’s a great time to reflect on the previous year and what went well and what didn’t. What people and circumstances did we encounter, and what lessons and blessings can we take with us into the new year? If we fail to take personal inventory and reset for the new year, we have missed a golden opportunity to make a new beginning.
Too often, we rely upon the world to help us decide what areas of our lives we need to change versus growing in the image of God. Our bodies will age and become ill, but our spirits can remain young, vibrant, and useful if we take the necessary actions for God to nurture and fertilize our souls, so we can continue to grow and make a difference in the world of the Spirit.
We are created in the image of God, which means we were designed to become more and more like God for the rest of our lives. Once we surrender and exercise our faith, the Spirit dwelling deep down inside allows us to reason like God, respond like God, and love like God. The ability to grow in the image of the Creator of the universe is mindblowing and such a supernatural gift. A gift that is only made possible by the One who created it and our willingness to accept God’s generosity.
My Creator, Your powerful and mysterious ways are beyond my comprehension. I know you love me and everything You have created. This new year, please remove the debris that blocks me from you. Remove the darkness that creates a false narrative in my mind, causing me to doubt You and slip into self-reliance. This year, I want to become the best version of myself possible, and I know that’s only possible if you are directing my life and I stop living for my own self-interest. Lord, I am ready for more of You and less of me. In the Your Spirit and Name, we pray these things. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- What areas of your life need to change so you can become more like God this year?
- What actions can you take, starting TODAY, to help put these changes into motion?
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