New Year, Same God
Did you know that the tradition of New Year’s resolutions is actually thought to date back to the ancient Babylonians?
About 4,000 years ago, these people would make promises to their gods in hopes that they could keep their word and find favor in the eyes of their idols.
Scrabble letters on a white table that read Happy New Year
Our resolutions today are not that different.
We make promises to ourselves in hopes to better our careers, health, or relationships in the year to come.
We hope that, if we keep these vows of change, the year will be favorable for us.
For many people, the new year represents a fresh start and a chance to reinvent ourselves.
After the tumultuous year that 2020 has been, I think that we all are craving a little change.
However, we are not guaranteed that 2021 will be any better.
We do not know what the future holds, but we do know one thing…that God never changes.
The Bible can tell us a lot about who God is:
He is love (1 John 4:8).
He is the path to our heavenly home (John 14:6).
God is just and faithful (Deuteronomy 32:4).
And He is the one who makes all things possible (Luke 18:27).
The best part, though, is that all of these wonderful attributes that make up our Heavenly Father never change.
A cross carved into a tree in front of an ebbing and flowing river.
He doesn’t ebb and flow like the things of this earth.
“A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?” “Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so, it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”
(Isaiah 40:6-8)
How many times do we catch ourselves vowing that in the new year we will lose that five pounds, be more patient with our loved ones, or be more diligent with our time management?
Sure, these are wonderful resolutions and goals to have, but, if we are being honest, our efforts usually only last a few weeks.
I am as guilty as anyone of making resolutions each new year only to completely abandon them by February.
I believe that this is because we are leaving one very important part out of the equation…God.
“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31)
Going into this new year, we can find new strength, no matter what we face, through trusting in the Lord, who never changes.
We can find the strength to lose that weight, fix our relationships, buckle down at work, or meet any goal that we set simply by focusing more on Christ and asking Him for support and guidance.
A Bible open on a busy street with colorful lights and people walking all around. The Bible is the only thing in focus.
With this new year’s mindset, we are sure to succeed!
We are guaranteed to face changes all throughout the new year of 2021, but we can take comfort in the fact that God will be the same steady rock all along the way.
I challenge you to join me in making the resolution to trust God more in the new year.
Let’s vow to allow Him, through this trust, to change us from the inside out as He remains a constant in our lives and hearts.
