A New Year, A New Start
By: Kristen L. McNulty
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Well, Christmas Day has come and gone and here we are at New Year's. Today for our Impact Devotional, I'd like to talk about what New Year's should mean for a Christian.
When I was growing up, every time I went to the doctor's, I was weighed and my height was checked. The reason the doctor did this is because as a human, it's natural for us to grow and gain weight during our childhood years. Now imagine what would happen if when I was three, I went for my yearly check-up, only to discover that over the past year I hadn't grown at all or gained any weight. That would be a major cause for concern and if the doctor was any good, he would immediately send me for some tests to determine what the problem could be.
In the same way that yearly check-ups are required for us as physical beings, yearly check-ups are required for us as spiritual beings. You see, ever since I've been a Christian, I've used New Year's as a measuring stick in my Christian walk. I take the time to sit back and evaluate how I've grown as a Christian over the past year and I suggest that you do the same.
You see, it is very important to keep a check on how much you're growing in your relationship with God. If you can look back and honestly say that you haven't grown much in your relationship over a one year period of time, that would be a cause for concern. And New Year's is a perfect opportunity to change this trend.
New Year's represents the chance to a fresh start and the opportunity to set some goals for the upcoming year. Yes, maybe you let your spiritual walk slide a bit in 2004, but it doesn't have to be that way for 2005.
A New Year's Resolution is a chance for you to set a goal that you'd like to meet over the next year. Now while vowing to lose weight or quitting a habit are good things in themselves, setting a spiritual goal first will allow everything else to fall into place.
So what should our resolution be? Well, in his book The Pleasures of God, John Piper writes that: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
I don't know about you, but in this next year I'd love to begin to discover what it's like to be satisfied in God. So this year, that is my resolution and I pray that it is yours also. Because we can serve in all of the ministry's we want and we can establish spiritual disciplines, but it's only when we are satisfied in God can He be truly glorified in us.
So in 2005, it is my prayer that both you and I take the journey to become satisfied in our Heavenly Father. This isn't going to be an easy resolution, but it is one that has the potential to change our lives and our world when lived out.
Let's pray:
Heavenly Father,
You know our hearts and you know where each and everyone of us are at. You know the depth of our commitments to You and You know the areas where we fall short. Lord Jesus, in 2005 please help us to become satisfied in You. Your Word promises that when we seek You, we will find You. Lord, help us to seek. Help us to set aside everything else and pursue You and You alone.
Take our lives and make them Yours, and Lord, may You alone be glorified.
In Your precious name we pray.
Amen.
This devotional was aired as a part of the Making A Difference Christian Radio Show.