It’s that time of year. The time when we intentionally review the joys and challenges of the past 365 days and resolve to start afresh and anew. For many, this is a time of hope as they look back on victories and forward to more positive changes in their lives. But for those who have struggled to accomplish their goals, this time of review and resolution can be discouraging. Setting goals to overcome the same challenges may seem redundant or even pointless. But as a new year dawns, remember that the grace of our savior empowers- even encourages- us to try again; to start afresh and anew (Prov. 24:16).
In Christ, all things are made new. II Cor. 5 charges us not to look at the flesh, the natural circumstances of the situation, but look to Christ. Christ has wiped the slate clean; forgiven and forgotten our mistakes. In Christ, we are made a new creation. The old things that we’ve wrestled with no longer have power over us when we are IN Christ.
“IN” must be emphasized because the promise of newness is conditional. Receiving this promise requires that we be “IN” Christ. To more fully understand its meaning, try replacing “IN” with the following: under, covered, surrounded, engulfed, sheltered, entwined, dwelling; dependent upon, like-minded, agreeing, following. When we are IN Christ, all things are made new.
Yes, it is ‘that time of year’ and we’ve been given another chance. This time, we can lean into the grace of God that empowers us to overcome. It’s time to trade our old things for His newness. May our resolution for this year be to lean even more into the sufficient grace of God that makes all things in our lives new.
Prayer:
Dear Father, I lift my new year to you. Thank you for the new start provided by your grace. I believe that in you all things are made new. You are perfecting everything that concerns me. I submit every goal to you and look forward to the testimony of victory as I live this year IN Christ.
Blessings to you from the EVE Leadership Team! May 2023 be a year of newness, renewal, and restoration.
For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. Proverbs 24:16
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. II Corinthians 5:16-17
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. II Corinthians 12:19
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1