Acts International Template
Articles > Solutions: > New Year, Same Me

New Year, Same Me

For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.1

 

We are a week into the New Year, a week into the “New Year, New Me” goals, and the million-dollar question is: “How are those New Year Resolutions coming?” Whether we’ve made the decision to start exercising, eat healthier, become more organized or manage your time better—any choice to make you a better you is a great one! But did we make those resolutions solely based on a need to make better choices or were they based on our own discontentment with how we look or act? Some might say, “What’s the difference?” or “What does it matter?”

  

It is very probable that we make the same resolutions year after year, which means that we have fallen into a cycle of discontentment that we carry all through the year—New Year, Same Me. We don’t accept the flaws that make each one of us unique, so we are constantly trying to change to a standard that is acceptable in our society.

  

I have good news for you today. You have been created and chosen by God himself! Which means that it doesn’t matter how we appear on the outside—it’s the inside that counts! (1 Sam. 16:7) It’s okay to want to be a better you, as long as we make sure that our hearts are in tune with what God desires for us. In His perfection, he decided that we were worthy of His love. We can rest in the knowledge that if we don’t hit our goal weight this year, and if our homes are still a bit cluttered after Spring, God will be just as accepting and equally loving as He is today. Maybe that feeling of acceptance is something that we can pay forward to others. Maybe this year we can be as accepting and patient with others as our loving God is with us! Let your motto be: “It’s a New Year, It’s the Same Me…but BETTER!”

 

Suggested Prayer: Thank you, Loving Father, for accepting me just as I am. You know my weaknesses, see my discontentment, and love me, anyway, patiently urging me to see that you’ve created me according to the good pleasure of your will to be your child. For this, and so much more, I am grateful! Help me to love myself (and others) as you love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

1.    Ephesians 1:4-5 (CSB).

 

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.

All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.