A New Year

Romans 7:19 – I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. (MSG)

A new year has dawned upon us. On my wall hangs a new calendar. Each year, I get calendars made with pictures of our family on each month's page. As I look at January, our whole family is there smiling back at me. I wonder what is in store for all of us this year. Will we grow closer together as a family? Will there be some clashes that we have to work through? What will those clashes look like?

Beneath the picture hangs the new month of January — the first of twelve in this year. On a few of the dates, I have written birthdays of family members. Other than that, the whole month is clean and white and unspotted. What will it look like by the end of the month? We have choices to make each and every day of the month. The choices will determine what will be on that page. Will there be sins? Failures? Victories? Triumphs? Sympathy shown to us and to others? Understanding? Love extended? A breakthrough in a relationship? A stronghold broken? Forgiveness? A death of someone dear to us? When we look back at each month as the year progresses, will we see growth? Will we see setbacks?

Romans 7:24-25 – I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. (MSG)

Let's choose to commit each day to the Lord. We can't do it ourselves. Even when we want to do good, we don't, and when we don't want to do evil, we do. Thank God that through Jesus Christ we can live victoriously!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as this new year unfolds before us, help us to let go and let God. We can't live life successfully by our own strength. Help us to admit we can't do anything without You. Help us to invite You into every area of our lives. Help us not to be discouraged when we do err. You are so willing to forgive us and to give us a clean page to start over on. Thank You. Amen.