Our Christmas decorations in our home each year include a countdown to Christmas wooden block display. Each morning, my daughter gets out of bed and changes the countdown. The display sits below our television, so it is readily seen by everyone. As the countdown moves from 30-days till Christmas until Christmas Eve when you see the number \u201c1\u201d, there is a building excitement. Christmas is coming!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then after Christmas, we put the block display back in its box with all the other Christmas decorations and we look toward a New Year. A new countdown begins, as we seek to take up new habits during the new year or we start the countdown to our summer vacation or to graduation days or maybe even a wedding. Our lives seem to tend to look forward to the next milestone, celebration, or gathering. We look with great hope and expectation to what we hope will come to pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A common theme at the New Year is the statement, \u201cNew Year; New You.\u201d The power of the changing of the calendar from one year to the other tends to create a transformational tone for our lives. We want to reach new goals and break down barriers that have been created. We want our lives to be different, and the new year seems to shift our mindset to new possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read, \u201cTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!<\/em>\u201d Also in Isaiah 43:18-19 we read, \u201cForget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.<\/em>\u201d The God who we serve is a God of new things. God is one who brings about the newness through His power at work in our lives. This newness does not dwell on the mistakes of the past but creates a new way where we no longer must fight the former battles on our own. God fights our battles and He brings about great victories and new life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we jump into 2026, I pray you will experience the newness and transformation of life that brings new opportunities, new growth, and deeper relationship with God. As you place yourself in God\u2019s presence in intentional ways through Bible Study, Prayer, Worship, Retreats, Christian Ashrams, Camps, etc., I pray you will experience the deep work of loving God even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God is doing new things and bringing new life. Trust in God and God will see you through each day in this new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prayer: Lord, do something new in me this year. I desire a deeper walk with you and the transformation only you can bring. I surrender and give myself fully unto you. With each new experience this year, I want to see your hand guiding me and walking with me. In Jesus\u2019 name. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Our Christmas decorations in our home each year include a countdown to Christmas wooden block display. Each morning, my daughter gets out of bed and changes the countdown. The display sits below our television, so it is readily seen by<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t