A New Year in Christ

by Sisterlisa

In our understanding of time we think we are beginning a new year, but God has no time. Our lives are but a vapor in His realm, so when we begin a ‘new year’ we are really just continuing in the life he has gifted us with having. Why do we make such a big deal of beginning something new in January, when we should have been doing it all along? Is it the ‘new year’ we are looking forward to or are we focused on the One who gave us the new year? As we focus on Jesus, the One who gave us life, what is a year of physical life on earth in comparison to the spiritual life he gives us for eternity? There is no comparison.

We can either focus on goals we make here on earth in this year 2010 or we can focus each day on the One who gives life. He doesn’t just give us the life we were born into, He also gives us life each day. Life that means more than just the beating heart and lungs that take in oxygen with each breath. I’m talking about Life that is breathed in by our spirits. Life that has no beginning or end. Life that brings joy without needing to have any tangible evidence of such life. Even though we measure time in 2010 by 365 days, God has no measurement of time, but for the years we are physically alive we can make Him our focus each and everyday.

As we walk this faith filled journey with Christ our Lord, there are days when we slip out of Christ. You know…those moments where we get in the flesh and stick our foot in our mouths. It could be those hours of frustration of a situation we have no control over and outbursts of anger seem to dominate us with fury. I believe we all have days that we regret our thoughts and actions, but we don’t have to live in condemnation. Sure, we may feel guilty or sad at something we said, did, or thought, but Jesus forgives. He is rich in mercy. He covers us with His grace, because His banner over us is love.

If you have begun 2010 with resolutions to make changes in your life, know that His grace covers you if you don’t quite measure up to the standard you are setting for yourself. Allow yourself to have grace towards you. You may have heard it said that we are our greatest enemy. I believe that is so true sometimes. We tend to condemn ourselves more than others do. I don’t like to use the word fail. Failing is when we cease from getting back up. Instead I’ll use the word fall. We all fall. When we fall, it’s a natural step to just get back up. If you trip you don’t just sit there on the ground for the rest for your life. You get up, one movement at a time. You turn over to your knees, then one foot is set down as you push yourself up, then the other foot is set down, then you are standing again. Next, you begin to walk again. Soon you’re running many miles before you fall again. We all get tired and there are times when we refuse to take a break and we become weak, then fall again. This is life. Falling isn’t life, getting back up is life. If we fall and don’t get up then that is failing. Since we always get back up then we are not failures, we are lifers. We aren’t born to die, we are born to live.

So live in Christ and you will live abundantly.

Sisterlisa is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Growing in Grace Magazine and owner of AGMinistries, a devotion blog for women. She is married and homeschools her four children while remaining active in serving the Lord in her community.