As a new year begins, another opportunity arises to start fresh. We as a society have decided that the start of a new year gives us the freedom to start over. To become a healthier, happier, and more put-together version of ourselves. As Christians, we can even take that one step further. We can look at the freedom a new year brings by thinking about who ultimately brings us true freedom!
Romans 12:2 (NLT) says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Renewing Our Minds
We need to change our perspective and renew our minds in His Word and His Truth. Once we begin to do that, we can lean into the freedom that God has given us! He will transform us into a new person as we continue to walk out the path that He has for us.
But, we won’t change anything about our lives until we change what we focus on and put our energy into.
And our focus will not change until we change our mindsets. When we recognize negative thinking, what do we think instead? In Philippians 4:8 (NLT), the apostle Paul advises us “to fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Freedom in His Promises
I encourage you to choose to find freedom in this new year and focus on what God has for you, rather than what the world says it has for you. Freedom isn’t found in how many goals you achieved this new year, or how well you kept up with your new year’s resolutions. True freedom is taking on each day renewing our minds with the truths and promises that God has given to us in His word.
Psalm 16:11 (NLT) says “in thy presence is fullness of joy.” Have you ever noticed that when you spend time with God, you are no longer stressed or bothered by the cares of life? Weariness is replaced with peace, sadness with gladness.
In the presence of God, we are FREE!
Mercy Multiplied exists to provide opportunities for all to experience God’s unconditional love, forgiveness, and life-transforming power. We offer multiple programs and resources online and onsite designed to equip people to live free and stay free in Christ. For more information about the services we offer, click here.
Want more resources? Listen to our latest MercyTalk Podcast episode, “Advent Series: Choosing Hope and Joy in the New Year”. For daily inspiration, follow us @MercyMultiplied on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
