New Year, New You is Possible with Christ
SCRIPTURE: “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23:
As the Christmas season is coming to an end and the New Year is on the horizon many people begin to think about how to better themselves, what they can do differently in the upcoming year, or how to maintain what has previously been accomplished. For many, the year or maybe years before have been challenging and their hope coming into the new year is sputtering. Regardless, if you are dodging lemons or making lemonade, Christ is still by your side. So, walk into the new year with confidence remembering no matter where you are in life that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Things to remember and meditate on during 2025.
1. For those of us who are struggling with change remember you have already been changed. Your struggle is with accepting that change. The bible tells us that if anyone be in Christ, he/she is a new creation; old things have passed away and ALL things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Walk in your newness.
2. For those of us who are struggling with sin: I know those reading this don’t sin. Contrary to that erroneous thinking, we all sin, no one is sinless although we try to sin less. Nonetheless, sinner or saint remember that Christ has already broken the chains that you are willingly holding onto. The Bible tells us that it is for freedom (from sin) that Christ has set us free so stand firm and do not let yourself be entangled/burdened again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1).
3. For those of us who are struggling with despair, sickness, hopelessness, or feelings of being overwhelmed cast your cares on the Lord because He cares for you (Peter 5:7). Jesus said to us, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden (carrying heavy burdens), and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus wants us to stop carrying these heavy loads and instead let Him be the one who carries the most weight. We, alternatively, can take the lighter load – take His yoke for it is easy and His burden is light.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, as we journey into a new year, a year of unknowns, a year that is pregnant with possibilities, I pray that we truly learn from You. I pray, that as changed people that we act like changed people and that we stop picking up and putting back on the chains of bondage that You have already broken. I pray that we trust in You with ALL our hearts and stop leaning on our own understanding and that we remember to acknowledge You in all our ways. Lord, thank you for Your Word that guides us even when we don’t want to be guided. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.
By Sis. Pat Towns
Things to remember and meditate on during 2025.
1. For those of us who are struggling with change remember you have already been changed. Your struggle is with accepting that change. The bible tells us that if anyone be in Christ, he/she is a new creation; old things have passed away and ALL things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Walk in your newness.
2. For those of us who are struggling with sin: I know those reading this don’t sin. Contrary to that erroneous thinking, we all sin, no one is sinless although we try to sin less. Nonetheless, sinner or saint remember that Christ has already broken the chains that you are willingly holding onto. The Bible tells us that it is for freedom (from sin) that Christ has set us free so stand firm and do not let yourself be entangled/burdened again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1).
3. For those of us who are struggling with despair, sickness, hopelessness, or feelings of being overwhelmed cast your cares on the Lord because He cares for you (Peter 5:7). Jesus said to us, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden (carrying heavy burdens), and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus wants us to stop carrying these heavy loads and instead let Him be the one who carries the most weight. We, alternatively, can take the lighter load – take His yoke for it is easy and His burden is light.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, as we journey into a new year, a year of unknowns, a year that is pregnant with possibilities, I pray that we truly learn from You. I pray, that as changed people that we act like changed people and that we stop picking up and putting back on the chains of bondage that You have already broken. I pray that we trust in You with ALL our hearts and stop leaning on our own understanding and that we remember to acknowledge You in all our ways. Lord, thank you for Your Word that guides us even when we don’t want to be guided. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.
By Sis. Pat Towns
Archive
2025
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
1 Comment
Amen! Amen! Sister.