By New: different from a recent previous one; just beginning or beginning anew and regarded as better than what went before; reinvigorated or restored.
It’s almost New Years, and isn’t that crazy? A new year already.
Some of you might be extremely ready to wave goodbye to 2020. Okay, maybe a lot of you. 2020 has been hard.
And with the new year comes new year’s resolutions, plans for change and betterment of oneself, and new goals.
So as you sit down and plan what your resolution will be, consider letting the old stay in 2020, and invite new change in your life.
What do I mean? Let me explain.
As Christians, we are called to let the old (our sinful nature, our “flesh”) pass away and become a new creation (let yourself be led by the Holy Spirit, pick up your cross, and follow Him).
In 1 Corinthians 5:17 it says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
You see, so many times as Christians we let our sinful nature run rampant in our lives. We do things we know we shouldn’t, we let the world distract us from our relationship with God, and we neglect stewarding that relationship.
But, we’re called to let those things pass away, and become a new creation.
So while I know we’re all human and we’re going to mess up, I challenge you to put in the effort this year to not only become a new creation, but to live like it daily.
You can do that by not only loving and serving God, but also by loving and serving others. You do that by choosing to follow Jesus, and not this world; by putting God first; and by reading the Word and doing what it says.
Become new this year. Be restored and reinvigorated. Be new. You’ve got this!
Maddisen Sauls is the smile and voice behind the Everyday Joy blog as well as the author of the Word of the Week posts and the editor of by leaps and bounds. Throughout her life, Maddisen has worked as a reporter for small town newspapers, a School Age and Preschool teacher, and has acquired her ministerial license.
An avid book reader and lover of the written word, Maddisen is passionate about using her favorite medium to reach the lost and the hurting, and to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling through life.
Following her battle with depression, Maddisen has made it her mission to help other people through this journey and to bring joy to the lives of the people around her.
You can find Maddisen on Instagram @maddisen.paige
by leaps and bounds 