Starting the new year off right

Just about a week ago, people were making New Year’s resolutions about what they want to accomplish in 2013.

Many are trying to quit bad habits, lose weight, work out or control spending. These are worthy goals, but sometimes the start of a new year can be both exciting and discouraging. It can be discouraging because your goals last year were not completed and now you have new year. There might even be some lingering difficulty from last year that is being carried over into a new year.

However, a new year brings unchartered territory that is yet to be lived. It allows us the opportunity to re-calibrate our lives and evaluate how we are doing.

Are we accomplishing our personal goals? How is our family doing? What about our careers? How is our health? All of these priorities are most important and worthy to be considered. It is apparent that adjustments are often needed to improve and make a new year productive.

There is one priority that a new year invites each of us to set in motion. It is our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ.

Where you do stand with the Lord right now? The Bible states, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14) Life is a rapid journey and we don’t know when we will reach the final destination. The Bible urges to prepare for our eternal future and we are given hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a new year begins, decide today, decide right now to start your new year with Jesus Christ.

This is not a religion because religion is what man does. The Bible calls this life a relationship with Jesus Christ , “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Jesus died on the cross 2,000 ago for our sins, so that we can be restored into a right relationship with Him. Jesus shed His blood to forgive us of our sin and offer new life in Him.

Starting a new year with Jesus as your Savior brings hope and satisfaction. He is our peace and we can have joy in knowing that He is by our side every day. There will still be disappointments and setbacks. However, when Jesus is with you, He brings you through those times with an inner peace. The songwriter said it best when he said, “every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.”

A new year with a new life in Christ will bring a total transformation. Perhaps you have considered your health or your weight for this year; but have you thought about your spiritual life? Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? This means we realize we are sinners, we ask God to forgive us, and ask Jesus to be our personal Savior. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9–10)

We accept Jesus Christ as our only hope of heaven. Start your new year with Jesus Christ.

The Rev. Rick Stonestreet is pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield. He can be reached at rstonestreet@cbcf.net.