With another year past and a new one stretching out before us, it seems a natural time to take stock of our lives.
What went well over the last year?
What was disappointing?
Where would we like to be in another year’s time?
What would we especially like to do and achieve in the coming year?
With such thoughts in our minds, we perhaps begin to form our New Year resolutions. I wonder what yours might be?
To go on a diet; exercise more; take up a new hobby; seek a new job or a new house; learn a new language?
Depending on when you are reading this you might have already failed to keep your New Year’s resolution and feel
rather disappointed with yourself!
So many of these promises we make to ourselves are about improving ourselves, and there’s nothing wrong with
that, but in a culture that drives us to constantly succeed and achieve (most of the adverts on TV encourage us to
be thinner, faster, wealthier, fitter, more powerful, more intelligent etc. etc.) we can easily feel that we have fallen
short in some way, that we have failed and so feel guilty and perhaps even slightly useless.
In a culture that values people primarily for what they’ve got and what they can do, we need to remind ourselves
that we believe in a God who loves us simply for who we are – his children. Here is a reminder of some of the
things God has to say about each of us;
‘I made you in my own image and likeness, and when I made you, I saw that you are good.’ (Gen. 1:27,31)
‘I am silently planning for you in love.’ (Zeph 3:17)
‘Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine.’ (Isa. 43:1)
‘I, Christ, loved you, and sacrificed myself for your sake.’ (Gal. 2:20)
As we make, and perhaps break, our New Year resolution let’s not be too hard on ourselves. Remember God loves
you as you are, and that perhaps the best resolution you can make is to begin to love yourself too, rather than listen
to the voices of a culture that constantly shouts, ‘Could do better!’
Of course, we also need to remember that although God does love us as we are, he loves us too much to leave us
as we are!
Every blessing for 2021
Pastor Steve