By Coach Debbie

Happy New Year!  A new year = a clean slate with so many memories to create and opportunities to make better choices.

Did you know our desire for “new” comes from God?

Open your Bible to Revelation 21, entitled “Making All Things New.”

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away……” (verse 1)
“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'” (verse 5)

This should bring us hope and encouragement!  He makes EVERYTHING new.  Heart, mind, soul, spirit.

Now turn in your Bible to the Old Testament book of  Ezekiel 36, which talks about God wanting to cleanse and purify so that He is glorified.

Ezekiel 36:26 prophesies, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

God is telling us He WILL do this.  He fills believers with His Holy Spirit and brings about restoration and transformation so that He is glorified.  As my Bible notes commented, “Why try to patch up your old life when you can have a new one?” 

Regardless of what the last 12 months looked like in your life, you are starting with a blank canvas.  Change is possible, not through willpower or negative self-talk but by leaning on God.

So, New Creation, all things are possible this year.

What will God help you with this year?

• Exercising regularly so that you can serve Him fully?
• Eating better since your body is His temple?
• Seeing your children as His reward to you?
• Honoring and respecting your husband because God united you?
• Investing more time with your Savior so that you can know Him better and love Him more?

Place Him on the throne of your heart.  Give Jesus first priority, above all things.  Let this be the year that God gets to show off in your life.  Trials will come, perhaps the hardest ones yet.  But you will rest in Him because you’ve handed it all to Him.  Easy, no; best, yes.

Happy NEW Year!