"Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:16-19.
The new year is almost here, and it is hard to believe that 2018 is almost over. The word "New" is such a refreshing word because it can be associated in so many different ways. A product can be new and thus maybe have better features than the old. A perspective can be new, and now you can see growth within someone or something. A relationship can be new, and this feeling can be unfamiliar but also inspiring. And lastly, in an instant second upon a ball of lights dropping from a pole, a year can be new! New year, new you right? I'm sure you have already thought about some new year resolutions, or maybe you have begun the steps to give yourself some momentum going into the new year to finally accomplish that goal. Why do we put so much emphasis on this calendar date? We box our lives and look back on a year of accomplishments and disappointments and we grade ourselves. Was it a good year or a bad year? What do I want to do next year that I didn't do this past year? Did things go my way last year? Will they finally go my way this coming year? These are common questions that a lot of people ask during this time. Before you start to map out your resolutions, I'd like to ask you to do one thing: Will any of your new year's resolutions bring you closer to God? Will any of your 2019 goals lead you into the person that God wants you to be?
You have the opportunity to do something that will not only make all of your years ahead wonderful, you have the opportunity to be made completely new through Christ! As the verse above mentions, anyone who is in Christ is a new creature! It's something that we have all heard, but until I really spent time diving into scripture and pursuing a deeper prayer life, I never knew what being a "New Creature" actually was. Can you imagine your entire life's perspective changing on a dime and you seeing the world and yourself as Christ sees you? Through Christ's eyes, troubles are not troubles, they are guides. Through Christ's eyes, ALL PEOPLE around you are His children and thus have become your family. Through Christ's eyes, all of your iniquities, your weaknesses, your lacking, is room for the Holy Spirit to come more into your life.
A few days ago I did a pretty scary thing. For a person who really relies on sight, I took a scary step and got lasik. For a golfer, guitarist, and a finance guy....the eyes are very important! I kept having a very easy peace about it though. The verse that I kept saying was in 2nd Corinthians: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I said before going into the procedure: "Lord, I know you have full control, and whatever outcome I will praise you and understand that outcomes are your way of guiding me." I really felt convicted this weekend after the procedure as I thought: Why don't I pray like this in EVERYTHING in my life? Why don't I apply this same exact perspective (God's plan) to every situation? Looking back over the last few years and seeing what has happened, it is easy to see God working through each situation and working within me when I have put my trust into Him with absolute obedience.
This year, my resolution is simple: Seek God and seek His perspective before, during, and after every situation. I want to ask the question: Will this bring me closer to God and closer to the person that God wants me to be? With God, He is absolute, and we too must be absolute. I absolutely know that if you and I put our trust fully in God and His plans that He has laid out for us, then we will be new creatures and we will fully embrace the joy that surpasses all understanding.
Have a wonderful week and a great 2019!
Song of the week: Always
The new year is almost here, and it is hard to believe that 2018 is almost over. The word "New" is such a refreshing word because it can be associated in so many different ways. A product can be new and thus maybe have better features than the old. A perspective can be new, and now you can see growth within someone or something. A relationship can be new, and this feeling can be unfamiliar but also inspiring. And lastly, in an instant second upon a ball of lights dropping from a pole, a year can be new! New year, new you right? I'm sure you have already thought about some new year resolutions, or maybe you have begun the steps to give yourself some momentum going into the new year to finally accomplish that goal. Why do we put so much emphasis on this calendar date? We box our lives and look back on a year of accomplishments and disappointments and we grade ourselves. Was it a good year or a bad year? What do I want to do next year that I didn't do this past year? Did things go my way last year? Will they finally go my way this coming year? These are common questions that a lot of people ask during this time. Before you start to map out your resolutions, I'd like to ask you to do one thing: Will any of your new year's resolutions bring you closer to God? Will any of your 2019 goals lead you into the person that God wants you to be?
You have the opportunity to do something that will not only make all of your years ahead wonderful, you have the opportunity to be made completely new through Christ! As the verse above mentions, anyone who is in Christ is a new creature! It's something that we have all heard, but until I really spent time diving into scripture and pursuing a deeper prayer life, I never knew what being a "New Creature" actually was. Can you imagine your entire life's perspective changing on a dime and you seeing the world and yourself as Christ sees you? Through Christ's eyes, troubles are not troubles, they are guides. Through Christ's eyes, ALL PEOPLE around you are His children and thus have become your family. Through Christ's eyes, all of your iniquities, your weaknesses, your lacking, is room for the Holy Spirit to come more into your life.
A few days ago I did a pretty scary thing. For a person who really relies on sight, I took a scary step and got lasik. For a golfer, guitarist, and a finance guy....the eyes are very important! I kept having a very easy peace about it though. The verse that I kept saying was in 2nd Corinthians: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I said before going into the procedure: "Lord, I know you have full control, and whatever outcome I will praise you and understand that outcomes are your way of guiding me." I really felt convicted this weekend after the procedure as I thought: Why don't I pray like this in EVERYTHING in my life? Why don't I apply this same exact perspective (God's plan) to every situation? Looking back over the last few years and seeing what has happened, it is easy to see God working through each situation and working within me when I have put my trust into Him with absolute obedience.
This year, my resolution is simple: Seek God and seek His perspective before, during, and after every situation. I want to ask the question: Will this bring me closer to God and closer to the person that God wants me to be? With God, He is absolute, and we too must be absolute. I absolutely know that if you and I put our trust fully in God and His plans that He has laid out for us, then we will be new creatures and we will fully embrace the joy that surpasses all understanding.
Have a wonderful week and a great 2019!
Song of the week: Always
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