The new year has arrived. It is often at this time that many people find themselves thinking about making some changes in their lives. We call it making New Yearís resolutions.
We take a quick inventory of the past year, list all the things that went well compared to a list of things we definitely donít want to repeat. Deep down, we want to get off to a fresh start. And so we make plans to take steps to improve our lives.
Maybe you can identify with what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:24 when he said, ìIíve tried everything and nothing helps. Iím at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isnít that the real question?î
Often at this time of the year we look for those quick fixes that will send our lives off in a new and hopefully more exciting direction. But it goes deeper than that. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Itís often our reactions, our fears, our inadequacies that we try to hide that causes us to act in these ways that we now so desperately want to change. I know I find that true in my life.
It doesnít take me long to discover that there are a lot of things I wish I would have done differently in this past year. There are definitely some things Iíd like to change if I could. But somehow I lack the power to make those changes. I need someone who is greater than I to make these changes happen.
Now, you may look at your life and conclude, ìMaybe so, but I know that I can change if I want to.î
Iím sorry, but you canít. As already mentioned, right at this moment, you and I are thinking up those New Yearís resolutions. But most often by the end of January, maybe February at the most, that list of good intentions has been thrown out. Why is that? Because we canít change on our own, we need Godís power to make important changes stick. We need a Saviour, someone who can make the changes we just have a hard time making on our own.
The thing is, if we are honest with ourselves, we can have those moments when life goes crazy, when life just seems to be out of control. I donít know about you, but I find myself feeling that way on occasion. The apostle Paul had those out-of-control moments back in his life.
In Romans 7:24, 25 he writes, ìIíve tried everything and nothing helps. Iím at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me?î
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does! You were made by God for God and for a very specific reason. And itís when you choose to embrace this, then life will begin to make a whole lot more sense.
So, where will you start to improve or change things in the new year? Why not start with God. He has a great year in store for you.
This Faith Matters column was provided by Tri-Community Baptist Church in Beiseker.
