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“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day”. – 2 Corinthians 4:16.
We are just a few days away from starting a new year.
The year’s final days are special for several reasons. Christmas, the indescribable wonder of God with us, has passed for another year, so it is time to reflect and prepare for 2025. We’ll continue to pinch ourselves for the next few days, saying, “Is this really another year?” Will 2025 be better? What does the new year hold in store for us?
Paul’s words to the church of Corinth in 2 Corinthians 4:16 give all of us believers hope in times of transition and change: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” He was writing to a persecuted church, telling them and us that there is something better coming in Christ regardless of what we are experiencing today. And isn’t that the longing in our hearts as we approach the new year? Whether we are a child, high school or college students, middle-aged or in our golden years, there is a belief that the future will be better. We “are being renewed every day” by God. His mercies are new each morning, and we are able to grow each day in our understanding of Him and our relationships with Him.
We will determine what happens in 2025. If we want to make positive changes, it will take some effort on our part. 2 Peter 1:5-8 says, “ In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”The message is obvious; it is not the same ole, same ole: It requires an intentional effort on our part to be everything God wants us to be. We must remember His sovereignty, power, and presence as we move into a new year.
The new year brings with it the thought of new opportunities. The new year seems the perfect time to make commitments and take action because you will have opportunities.
Our prayer is that we will embrace the new year. It may be filled with headwinds, transitions, and trials, but for the believer, as we grow more and more into the likeness of Christ, there is such incredible hope and unexplainable joy as we serve Him no matter the circumstances. May this be a new beginning for a new you where you see the Lord move in your life.
Discussion Questions:
- What do you want to pursue in the new year?
- How can we be better as followers of Jesus in the new year?