"A NEW YEAR"

I am indebted to my legal assistant (and boss), Donna Cooper, for the following very practical devotional in order to get a fresh start for the New Year:

The first thing to do is to let go of the baggage of the past. 

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:18-19

In order not to dwell on the past, we have to actively “transform our minds”.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:1-2.

We also need to focus on God’s promises:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;  therefore I will wait for him.”  Lamentations 3:22-24

God makes everything “new”.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’.  And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ “ Revelation 21:5    God is always on the throne and always making things new.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...”  1 Peter 1:3

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”  Ezekiel 36:25-27

Then God will give us a new heart and a new spirit so that we can be strong, bold and victorious!

“...that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:22-24

“He has put a new song in my mouth - Praise to our God; Many will see it and far, And will trust in the Lord.”  Psalm 40:3

So, as we start 2017, my prayer for all of us is that God will help us to not worry about tomorrow, but rather help us fix our eyes (and our hope) on His promises and the good plans God has for us as we eagerly await what is to come. 

“‘For I knew the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

God bless!

John Adams