Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Or maybe you’ve given up on doing that!.

Indeed, most people who make a New Year’s Resolution have given up on their project by mid February. But there is another way to approach the start of a New Year: Pray for God to lead you in a “New Year’s Renewal.”

For a number of years I’ve been using the clean slate and fresh start of a New Year to make a New Year’s Renewal. I pray about what the Lord wants to do in my life and how I can work with him to grow in that area.

My New Year’s Renewals always boils down to one thing: More than anything I want to be the kind of person who lives for the one thing of being devoted to Christ with all my heart. Each year God shows me a problem I need to overcome or something about how I live my daily life that needs to change so that I can get more centered on Christ as my One Thing. This year, more than ever, I want to seek the One Thing that is the best thing, to be more devoted to Christ, don’t you? Of course you do, or you wouldn’t be reading this Devotion!

How do we grow to be devoted to Christ as our One Thing? How do we make real changes to how we live our daily lives as an expression of love for God? How do we overcome worry or anger? How do we learn to rejoice in trials? Pray without ceasing? Love difficult people? Not by trying hard!

The way to make a real character change – to learn, grow, or heal in any area – is by training. Look to Jesus as your Coach and “work out” with him. “Train yourself to be godly” Paul advises us (1 Timothy 4:7*). So-o…pray, read scripture, worship, and interact with other believers.

May you and I, day-by-day, discover more change in our walk and live for the One Thing of loving God and loving others as he loves us.

Cliff

 CHURCH NEWS:

·         Open House at the new Greytwig Rd. Offices, January 8, after each worship service

·         Church Leaders Training, January 9, 5:30-7:30pm

·         Connect Group Recruitment, January 15, after each worship service