The New Year can bring on all kinds of new goals and resolutions to help better ourselves: eat right, exercise more, simplify, get organized, get out of debt, the list goes on and on. There’s something about a fresh calendar that drives us to make changes, to step up and incorporate better choices for our lives.
However, often in life our greatest battles can be with our own selves; the struggle with our flesh, the battle against our own sinful nature, etc. Just because we’re believers doesn’t mean that struggle goes away. In fact, it may be even more difficult to choose what is right, to walk wisely. And you can be sure that the enemy will work hardest against those who are striving to be a light in a dark world.
Matthew 5:14 NLT “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
There are certain attitudes and choices that, over time, can become toxic to our spiritual walk. They’ll lead us down wrong pathways, or cause us to drift away from God. We often just feel helpless to lay down the old nature. It’s too easy, especially in times of pressure and stress, to pick up what we’re most familiar with. And so the cycle goes on, and on.
Here’s truth: Our hope is found not in our ability, but in Christ alone. He understands our weaknesses and promises to help us. He came to set us free from the sin that we still struggle with daily. He came to renew us and give us fresh purpose. His Spirit within us will be our guide, our help, at every step along the way. We just have to follow His lead and desire more than anything, to live first for Him. Don’t let old ways hold you back any longer. Press through, live free, and choose what is better.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
However, often in life our greatest battles can be with our own selves; the struggle with our flesh, the battle against our own sinful nature, etc. Just because we’re believers doesn’t mean that struggle goes away. In fact, it may be even more difficult to choose what is right, to walk wisely. And you can be sure that the enemy will work hardest against those who are striving to be a light in a dark world.
Matthew 5:14 NLT “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
There are certain attitudes and choices that, over time, can become toxic to our spiritual walk. They’ll lead us down wrong pathways, or cause us to drift away from God. We often just feel helpless to lay down the old nature. It’s too easy, especially in times of pressure and stress, to pick up what we’re most familiar with. And so the cycle goes on, and on.
Here’s truth: Our hope is found not in our ability, but in Christ alone. He understands our weaknesses and promises to help us. He came to set us free from the sin that we still struggle with daily. He came to renew us and give us fresh purpose. His Spirit within us will be our guide, our help, at every step along the way. We just have to follow His lead and desire more than anything, to live first for Him. Don’t let old ways hold you back any longer. Press through, live free, and choose what is better.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Anger
James 1:19-20 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
Perhaps more than ever, these past few years have seen a significant divide in our nation. Anger, harsh words, ridicule, and bullying, often originating from the White House, have been rampant, not only in our own relationships, but online too. There’s this huge need that often rises up within us to just “be right.” Or to let someone else know “how wrong” they are. But an attitude of anger and cruel speech does nothing to create change—it only makes the divisions greater.
Harsh words, putting others down to make ourselves look better, anger spewing out on all those around us, is only making us look bad.
Proverbs 15:1 NLT A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
It's really not about the other person or people we’re even angry at; it’s about us, our own hearts. God alone has the power to break through all that hardness.
He can change us into people of kindness, self-control, and encouragement. It may even seem like a miracle to those around us. But we have to choose to allow Him to work in those areas. And it will be a powerful testimony of His work in our lives.
Colossians 3:8 NLT But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
Life is short —don’t waste another year stuck in that mess. Let go, however hard it might be. Cry out to God for healing, for help to live free of these things that seek to control. He promises to help you; He never leaves us on our own to work through our struggles alone. He alone can lift us out of the deepest pit we find ourselves in.
We’re never too far gone. We’re never too far out of God’s loving grasp. Reach out for Him, instead of reaching for that thing that has caused havoc in your life. He will set you free and will bring restoration to the years that have been lost
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
James 1:19-20 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
Perhaps more than ever, these past few years have seen a significant divide in our nation. Anger, harsh words, ridicule, and bullying, often originating from the White House, have been rampant, not only in our own relationships, but online too. There’s this huge need that often rises up within us to just “be right.” Or to let someone else know “how wrong” they are. But an attitude of anger and cruel speech does nothing to create change—it only makes the divisions greater.
Harsh words, putting others down to make ourselves look better, anger spewing out on all those around us, is only making us look bad.
Proverbs 15:1 NLT A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
It's really not about the other person or people we’re even angry at; it’s about us, our own hearts. God alone has the power to break through all that hardness.
He can change us into people of kindness, self-control, and encouragement. It may even seem like a miracle to those around us. But we have to choose to allow Him to work in those areas. And it will be a powerful testimony of His work in our lives.
Colossians 3:8 NLT But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
Life is short —don’t waste another year stuck in that mess. Let go, however hard it might be. Cry out to God for healing, for help to live free of these things that seek to control. He promises to help you; He never leaves us on our own to work through our struggles alone. He alone can lift us out of the deepest pit we find ourselves in.
We’re never too far gone. We’re never too far out of God’s loving grasp. Reach out for Him, instead of reaching for that thing that has caused havoc in your life. He will set you free and will bring restoration to the years that have been lost
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
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