As somebody who subscribes to several Substacks, I got bombarded by multiple Christmas and New Year posts from those stacks over the previous weeks. Rather than add to the bombardment in your inbox, I decided to hang back for a bit and send out a New Year’s greeting early in January.
Well, it’s a New Year. Why do we care about that so much?
I didn’t feel very different on the morning of January 1 than I did on the evening of December 31. So, why does it matter?
As humans, we measure life as a series of cycles. Days build into weeks, weeks build into months, months build into years, and years build into decades.
Then, we imbue each future cycle with the opportunity for better things. We literally use phrases such as “a better tomorrow.”
Each turn of the calendar page, represents another clean slate, another fresh start. If you didn’t like the last day, week, month, year, or decade, there’s another one coming right behind it that hasn’t yet been soiled.
I think we often get enamored with the promise of those future cycles. “This time, I’m going to get it right.” “This time, it’s going to be my year.”
Except we never do. And it never quite is.
We stumble. Satan throws obstacles our way. The corrupted creation just won’t bend to our will.
So, perhaps instead of looking forward, we should just look to the present. Focus on our behavior in the here and now. Focus on making good, Godly decisions right this moment.
Did you read your Bible this morning? Did you praise God for nothing more than who He is? Did you talk to Him?
If not, then maybe you should just stop reading, right here. Offer up a prayer. Thank God for who He is. Praise Him. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Don’t promise you’ll do it next week. Don’t make a resolution for 2024.
Just do it.
Now.
The Best of 2023
One thing I wanted to do today was highlight some of the most popular and engaging Simple Christianity articles from 2023.
#5
#4
#3
#2
#1
So, Happy New Year! But don’t wait to engage with the Creator. Do it today.
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Happy new year David.
Through my church, I’m attending a Bible study on Genesis every Tuesday night. We have homework which makes me accountable. Something I truly need to stay in God’s word.
This next year is most likely going to be one for the history books. Praying my faith continues to grow daily so that I may be ready and able for what’s to come. Part of my daily prayers include asking God to use me to help people awaken to the truth. Now I just need to “be still”. Patience is not my middle name. 😀