New year, new YOU?

Katrina Harrmann

Do you ever make New Year’s resolutions? Better yet, have you ever kept one?

Why do we do this every year? Is it because we look back at the old year and think we can do better? or be better? No matter how hard we try, it’s never quite “good” enough, is it?

That’s because only Christ can fill that void of longing within us. “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Sometimes I think all this striving toward a “better” version of ourselves gets rather exhausting. We are constantly trying to get skinnier, earn more money, have more than the neighbors, or just be more—reaching toward perfection.

But we won’t get perfection on this side of heaven because the truth is: it’s not possible!

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to try new things—to try to be healthier or set goals for ourselves—especially spiritually.

The new year is a great time to sit and reflect on how we can get closer to God this year.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).

Devotional used by permission of Time of Grace®. For more information, visit www.timeofgrace.org