New Year, New Season—New You

As we step into this new year, we aren't just changing a page on the calendar; we are stepping into a divine promise. In Revelation 21:5, the Lord declares, "Behold, I make all things new." This "new" is not merely defined by the passage of time or a youthful age—but by a spiritual freshness that is brand new in quality. We must realize that "new" is not just a date; it is a place found exclusively in Jesus Christ. To be in-Him is to inhabit a reality that never decays. As you move forward, remember that you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), firmly rooted in a Savior who specializes in renewing what was once broken.

This season calls for spiritual "putting on" and "putting off." Just as Ezekiel 36:26 promises a new heart and a new spirit, we are invited to let go of the "old man"—the former conduct and the dark ways of understanding that once separated us from the life of God. The root of the word "new" in Hebrew (Chadash) implies a rebuilding and repairing. God is giving you a heart of flesh to replace the stone. By being renewed in the spirit of your mind, you can walk in righteousness and holiness, leaving behind the futility of your past to embrace the fresh, new character that God has within you.

Finally, embracing the "new you" requires a deliberate choice to look forward rather than backward. Isaiah 43:18-19 instructs us not to dwell on the former things, for God is doing a new thing that "springs forth" even in the desert. Like the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3, we must count past gains and losses as rubbish compared to the excellence of knowing Christ. By forgetting & forgiving what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, we press toward the prize of our upward invitation. This year, as you dwell “in Christ” remember the “old” has passed away and you are now present in the life-giving presence of the Lord.