Thursday, January 1, 2015

All Things New

As we recover from the holidays and begin to ready ourselves for our return to work and school, many are making New Year's resolutions. Personally, I am not a big fan of resolutions.  Each year there is a plethora of articles on how long we are actually capable of keeping our resolutions...the statistics are not in our favor.  We simply struggle to get things done in our own power; especially when those things revolve around our deepest struggles.  I am reminded in times like these, that there is a power that is greater than us, whose face is Jesus, that can not only restore us to sanity, but can also transform us from weakness to strength, sinfulness to righteousness, and feeling worthless to treasured in the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 3:9-17 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Today's Prayer:
Holy God, help us to remember that we are not who we once were.  Help us to see that we are already and continuously being renewed in your image.  Help us in this new year to lean more fully into you, that we may know the fullness of our salvation and that our transformation and joy may be complete in you.  Amen. 

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