It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit,
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Zechariah 4:6 (NLT)
So, it’s already that time of year where I dive into the New Year’s Resolution craze. Yup - it happens every year. What’s up with that?! Why is the first day of January such a monumental time of renewal? Who really knows? All I do know is that clean slates feel absolutely wonderful.
I call it that “new box of un-opened crayons” feeling. They’re all sharp and pointy, the paper covers are all in tact, they smell so good. Oh come on now, you know you love the smell of new crayons. 
Seriously though, new beginnings are AWESOME!
What I think we forget is that every single day of our lives can be a Happy New Year kind of day. In fact, every hour could be like that if we just make a decision to live that way. It’s all about knowing who and who’s you are. When we belong to Christ, everything is made new. EVERYTHING! That’s not a once a year event. It’s a continuous, never ending flow of new life.
Crayons by Trisha Shears
Even still, it’s hard to ignore the wondrous feeling of taking down the old calendar and hanging up the new one. It’s un-blemished, clean, wide open with possibilities…and it’s not covered in giant permanent marker scrawl. So, as we begin to think about the approach of 2010 (I can’t believe it’s going to be 2010) there’s a special verse that we should keep in mind and never let go of.
It is not by force nor by strength, but BY MY SPIRIT, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
How many changes have you desperately tried to make during 2009? What did your resolution list look like from January to March? Any check marks? Any scratch outs? How many things did you give up on before Valentine’s Day? Most importantly: what kind of prayer life did you have concerning that list?
No matter what you want to start doing, or stop doing, remember one thing: God is the source of this change you seek. God is the source of it all. From Him and only Him will come the power to develop or release habits. From Him and only Him will come the courage, strength, and persistence to accomplish even the easiest task on your list.
Thank You Lord for reminding me of this powerful verse in Zechariah. As 2010 approaches, You know the goals I have in mind, yet I know that none of them will come to fruition unless I seek You as the author and finisher of it all. Please develop my prayer life so that I willingly acknowledge you as the source of all that I seek to change. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
Tags: Holidays, New Year's Day
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