New Year New Me

“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:22-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The new year always bring with it an opportunity to renew who you are. People make resolutions to work out, eat better, learn new skills, earn degrees, etc. These are all admirable goals to set, as I even set some myself at the beginning of each year. However, the most important resolution you could make is to become more like Jesus. For the Word commands “be holy, for I am holy” (I Peter 1:16).

In Ephesians, Paul wrote that we should “put on the new self.” This is a wonderful verse to use as a goal for the year. And a great place to start is by evaluating where you are. Ask yourself, in 2021 did I:

• pray constantly (without ceasing)?
• study the Word regularly?
• attend church and fellowship with other believers regularly?
• witness to others regularly?
• minister to/serve others regularly?
• keep my thoughts, words and actions pure and holy?
• maintain spiritually healthy habits and relationships?
• rid my life, my house and myself of anything unholy?
• live a holy life that’s pleasing and acceptable to God in every way?

As you reflect on how you lived spiritually last year, and what you could do to grow even more this year, fast and pray to God. Ask Him for guidance on getting back on track, or growing even more if you’re on track. Then get moving, so you can truly declare “new year, new me!”