As 2011 ends and 2012 begin, we need to access exactly what it means to enter into the New Year. Oftentimes we think that our past life will end with the old year. No, life goes on as usual. One does not get a new identity just because we have a new year. 2011 will be ending, but our current situations will remain the same.
The New Year is not the end of all things. Nothing will change with the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012, except the calendar. Your entire life, whether good or bad, is all transferred from the old to the new. Last year should be looked upon as an instrument to measure future growth in the New Year.
In years past we, take the New Year as a time to build a new life. Perhaps, this year we should take a different approach. Do not attempt to build a new life but rather improve on the old one. By improving on the old, we are actually creating something new. It’s like remodeling a kitchen. After the remodeling is complete, we still have the same kitchen, but with new and improved contents; therefore making it far better.
Each New Year, most people always make what they call New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes they looked upon as a fad that comes and goes at the beginning of each New Year. It should not be a fad, but it should be a reflection of your past, so that you will not repeat the same mistakes you made last year. Fads are good if they are genuine and honestly evaluated to access one’s walk in life, especially his walk with God.
My father has this saying that he passed on to me. ‘do not walk in my footsteps, but step over them’. In essence, he was telling me not to make the same mistakes he had made. I agree with that philosophy up to a point. When his footsteps were positive, then I should by all means walk in them, but when there was error or room for improvement, then I should step over them to avoid repeating the same mistakes. In life, always duplicate the good with the intent to improve, and leave the bad because it leads to misfortune.
As the New Year approaches, remember not to look back. Always stay focused on the future, always moving forward. Only, reflect on the past, but do not spend any time there. No matter how much you think on the past, nothing can change it. Some unfortunate things may have taken place last year, but what has been will always be; therefore accept it and move on with your life. If you are constantly thinking about the past, you will be useless when it comes to the things of God, (Luke 9:62).
In the coming New Year, by all means, make some resolutions. Resolutions are good and necessary for proper growth and for the renewing of the mind. Do not make meaningless resolutions that you don’t intend to keep. Make positive resolutions like: improving relationships, mending fences, forgiving one another, and repenting if necessary. These types of changes are grounded and rooted in godly wisdom and they will overtake and conquer all of last year’s shortcomings.
There is a time and season for everything. Now, is the time and now, is the season that we should cease being babes, so that the fruition of maturity will reign and dominate our lives. Now, is the time for us to put off the old man and to put on the new man, so that we will reflect the image of our creator to the rest of the world
