December 28: APPROACHING THE NEW YEAR

As you begin to ponder a little about the New Year, let this summary of Isaiah 43:15-19 give you a challenge: “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King. This is what the Lord says----‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?’” God is the god of the “new”! God is not tied down to the “past”. But your past experiences are going to determine your approach to “new” things. If you experienced a “new thing” with God in 2007, then you have greater anticipation for 2008.
Let’s look at this challenge! God challenges you to look around to see if there is something new on your horizon. Are you ready for it? Do you want something new because you don’t have to keep on repeating the vices or bad habits of the past?
How about a new “self”? As early as 1 Samuel 10:6 in the Old Testament we hear God challenging Saul, “the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power and you will be changed into a different person.” The offer of newness of personality is real. That comes about because of the new creation that Paul describes as waiting for people when they receive Jesus into their hearts. The passage is 2 Corinthians 5:17. Feel the inspiration of this from Galatians 6:15: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.”
If you want to be new in the New Year now is the time to explore with Jesus His offer of the “new birth” from John 3:3,7. Christ will take over the control of your life, if you will let Him, and you will be “open under new management”. Does this scare you or inspire you? Don’t be afraid, just trust Him.
He can put a new song in your heart, better than anything that the electronic world will play for you. David, who really loved music, said in Psalm 40:3, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” Finally you can make some pleasing sounds that will bless those around you. Your life may have been out of tune for so long that you irritated people in spite of your best efforts. Now an appealing sound from the “new you”, wow!
Top the newness off with living under the “new command” from Jesus, “A new command I give you: Love one another.” (John 13:34)

“Dear God, it is so exciting to approach the New Year following You because
we know the trip will be filled with blessings from Your love. Amen”