Can you remember the New Year’s resolutions you made last year? Most of us make far more New Year’s resolutions than we keep, or even remember. The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that they tend to focus on what we do, rather than what God can do.
Here’s my suggestion for the new year: Rather than concentrate on what you can do, focus on God’s promises. Here are three:
God’s mercies are new every morning. Choose to live every day in the wonder of His grace. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22, 23). Morning by morning God rains His grace and mercy down upon us. Let your mind soar into the heights of His goodness and marvel at His mercy.
God’s new life is better than my old life. He offers us life through the power of His new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Cor. 5:17). Through the power of His Holy Spirit old things are passed away and our lives are new.
God’s new tomorrow is far superior to today. “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new’” (Rev. 21:5). In God’s tomorrow sickness, suffering, pain, and death are gone; love, joy, and peace will reign forever.
Let’s focus not on our resolutions, but on God’s faithfulness. He promises to shower our lives with His goodness and mercies every day, to re-create us in His image, and to prepare a new tomorrow for us in His eternal kingdom. That’s something to rejoice about this new year.
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Mark A. Finley is editor-at-large of the Adventist Review. This article was published January 12, 2012.
