Here’s the question: as we move into the new year, what’s your hope? If you had to sum it up, what would it be?
Many of us have a good, long history of making promises on December 31, and why not? It’s right there, big as anything on the calendar. And because it follows the common practice of feasting and celebrating during the month of Christmas(!), we often have extra reasons to start over. Start new. Start again. Start fresh. There’s no harm in that…unless you scrutinize my success rate too closely. How about if you watch after yours, and I’ll watch over mine. Deal?
Anyway, before you put together your new start ideas for success, think about how successful Jesus was at putting you together for your new start with Him. Before you move a muscle or take a first alert breath on January 1, 2025, consider what Paul wrote:
Galatians 2:20 The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
There are a lot of reasons why this is such a good passage, but a big one is that God always begins with what He has done for you. That’s His starting point with you every day, throughout the day. That just might make a difference for you in those days, don’t you think? You’ve been made new and live by faith; faith that Jesus was successful with you, that He is successful with you, and that He will be successful with you. You live from His success. In every day and in everything, He is perfect with you and perfect for you. He is your starting point.
Consider also Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been brought to fullness.
“Fullness.” What’s missing from fullness? Nothing. Not a thing. That happened at the start He made for you. He was successful, which means you’ve got no room for more because you have everything already. You’re starting full up! He did it.
With Jesus, you don’t ever start incomplete, you start complete. You don’t start empty, you start full. You don’t start wounded, you start well. You don’t start broken, you start whole. From your new birth in Christ, your mind is catching up to the truth of who you are as a new creation—a perfect son, a perfect daughter of God already (See Hebrews 10:10,14). That’s your starting point! If you’ve been thinking or speaking differently, consider the truth, especially when confronted by your feelings. They’re not always your friend—they can lie—and the Holy Spirit will strengthen and help you with the truth. That’s what He does. He’s rather good at it.
Fortunately for you and me, the Spirit won’t rely upon our promise to remember all of this! And it’s not because we’re so bad at remembering or keeping our promises, it’s because teaching us and reminding us of the truth is what He does! In other words, He likes it, and it comes to us with an added benefit:
John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
These are promises He made and keeps; He never takes them back! He’s going to be perfect with us in 2025, and we’ll have 365 days for Him to show us. Now that’s the making of a Happy New Year!
See you later.