Ahh, January, January, January…the month of the year whose beginning is so highly anticipated and celebrated by most everyone, but whose duration quickly becomes buried in the “meh”-ness of returning to the same, tired routine, putting away Christmas gifts already forgotten and walking in a wilderness of sad trees emptied of their leaves by a sharp and icy wind. It’s a time when resolutions fall with each passing day, suffocated by the lapse of good intention and the faded hopes of what we prayed would be a fresh, new start in a fresh, new year.
Bummer.
If you’re not careful, this little smidge of the year can set the tone for many months to come, dooming you to fail before you even get started. But it doesn’t have to be that way! The God I serve is not bound to some annual end-of-year celebration…His power does not surge in the moments just before or immediately after the ball drops only to trail off when the Christmas decorations finally come down. That’s not Who He is…He is the God of all time and His love and care for you is consistent and steady no matter when or where you call on His Name.
Truth is, He is as keenly interested in your “new beginning” as you are, but unlike us, He has the authority and the sovereign will power to create and sustain the “new you” you’re so desperately pursuing. You trying to quit smoking? Ask Him. You trying to be a more loving spouse? Ask Him. You trying to get out and exercise more? Ask Him. Do you see the pattern?
Step out of the hopelessness of trying to do it on your own and failing…instead call on your Creator to mold and make you into the beautiful creature He has designed you to be. Your step of faith and submission will be rewarded with a peace and sense of fulfillment known only to those before you who also have elected to follow in His footsteps.
That being said, do you know why I labored to share these words with you this morning? I’ve been where you are and honestly, my life is a testimony of this life-changing truth. 🙂
So don’t freak out if you haven’t “turned over a new leaf” yet or if you’ve already watched the “leaf” go up in flames as we near the end of January…it’s not too late! Allow God take authorship of your life story and watch what happens. Don’t know how? Ask me! Already done it? Tell me about it! I’d LOVE to hear your story!
Have a stupendous Sunday, my friends..
<εφημεριος><
Photo credit: Danielle Macinnes via unsplash.com
Excellent point of view.
My lesson learned on this topic –
We put too much emphasis on a new year when in reality we are renewed every morning. I should live each day in the Hope of what’s to come. (Also paraphrases today’s message at church from 2 Peter, Chapter 3)