New Year New Things
We are proclaiming that this year is going to be new, and different. But have we ever stopped to think that a major part of change and newness in this year is hinges on the decisions that we must make starting today.
All of our desired changes for this year vary from one person to the next. But we have to ask ourselves is there anything that is unwanted baggage from last year that we are attempting to bring into to the new year. Are we brining into the new year things such as unresolved problems, old mindsets, toxic relationships, bad habits with regards to our health, or even our finances to name a few. What are the things that we want corrected, addressed, or closed for this year?
For example if we battled with low self esteem last year and this year we are proclaiming “no more, I am going to be all that God designed me to be this year”. Yet, we still allow negative thoughts to reign in our mind over God’s word, we still allow people to speak negative things into our lives, we surround ourselves in environments that do not nourish our spirits, we hang around people that do not lift us up and encourage us, and we don’t create healthy boundaries from toxic relationships but yet and still we believe change is coming this year.
Luke 5: 37-39 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
So what exactly is the issue with the old wineskin. The problem is that the old wineskin has assumed a definite shape and is no longer pliable. It is fixed and somewhat brittle. The activity of new wine will stress it beyond its ability to yield. And so both the wine and the skin are lost.
We have to recognize that the things that did not work for us last year are not going to work for us this year. And as a matter of fact for some of us this issue was not something that was an issue in 2024 but has been an issue in 2023, 2022, 2021 and even longer.
Some of us may want a new job because we are sick and tired of the people we work with but the issue may be coming from how we connect and respond to others. So getting a new job is not really the answer. The new job could be awesome and amazing with some great people but if we have not changed we will be like the old wineskin because we have assumed a steady position from our old way of behaving and we are not pliable.
The major problem with this is God cannot use us and He cannot get the glory out of our lives. Maybe we ask ourselves “well Renee what difference does it make, my loss if I do not become all that God has called and designed me to be”. The news flash is this scripture right here. Collisions 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
This includes us as well.
1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
When we talk about being in a new place this year we need to be reminded of who we belong to. And why it is so important that in any areas we need to make change it needs to be ultimately made for the glory of God.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
In order for change to happen in our lives this year we need to go into 2025 with a new mindset, new perspective and a new attitude. A start is reminding our selves one that we don’t belong to ourselves and that we belong to God. Two, that we are here to glorify God, and three we need to allow God to direct our paths and lean not to our own understanding for 2025 in all that we say and do. (Proverbs 3: 5-6) If we can make these things our goals for this year we will see change in 2025.