New Years Resolutions?

"Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person.
The past is forgotten, and everything is new."
2 Corinthians 5:17 CEV emphasis mine

It's that time of year once again. Time to start re-thinking our priorities, standards, diets... the list can go on and on. Why is it that we always wait for the beginning of a new year to change our bad habits? Shouldn't we be striving each day to change our questionable ways?

As I think back on the 12 years I have spent since accepting Christ, it is amazing how things that were ok for me to do as a Christian then are far from being ok for me to do now. The farther I walk down the path of righteousness the harder it is to accept my old ways of thinking and behaving. You know the way we talk, maybe the little "Oh my God' or "Holy Cow" we heard as children that now radiates off of our tongues with out much thought. Words that become harder to say in those subtle ways when we read God's word reminding us that God's name is to be kept Holy, not taken in vain.

The topics we used to talk with our girlfriends about some how have become inappropriate. The desires of our conversations with unbelieving friends have began to change. We no longer want to just talk about the weather but we begin to quiver as we hold the phone, praying for the courage neccesary to share our love for Jesus with them. We become aware of the God incidents in our lives, we begin searching for the miracles, knowing they exist. We learn the power of prayer and begin to call upon it often. It is no longer something we have to do, it is something we are blessed to do!

The things we once thought were cute or the television show we used to be addicted to, it all begins to feel a little dirty. It is that moment when you realize how the Holy Spirit has been working in your life all along. You become more open to the promptings. More open to God's desire for your life and not so much your desire to do what ever you want to do.

The more I learn about my Father in Heaven the more I crave to know Him more. Time spent with others who love Him becomes critical to keeping me on track. Time alone with Him becomes a necessity in my life, something I seem to be lost with out. Church is no longer something I attend, it is my family. Serving is not a requirement it is a humbling privledge.

What a beautiful thought when in comparison to the usual disappointment in reflecting upon our previous year. We don't need to feel ashamed or bad that we are still not where we want to be. Jesus gives us the opportunity to come as we are. Broken, battered and yet.... beautiful. The beauty is not in our lives but in the life we have received when we accepted Christ as our Savior.

The amazing thing is, the closer we get to the Lords beauty the more we want to change about ourselves to radiate that beauty to others. Making new resolutions no longer needs to cause us grief or sadness as we say good bye to those old ways. The excitement is that we can be joy filled because we are finally getting it. God is molding us, we are becoming pliable no longer resisting, we are encouraged as His word reminds us "we can do all things through Him who strengthens us" Philippians 4:13. Even being content and excited about exchanging our old ways for God's ways!