For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. Joshua 5:6+9
Happy Day! It’s a new day, a new year, so leave the old you behind and reach forward for the new you, ‘Christ in You’.
Question: Why do New Year’s Resolutions fail?
Answer: Because change in beliefs (repentance in thought life) AND behavior (actions) are required for there to be lasting transformation.
Are you willing to change your thinking and behavior? God gives new birth to your spirit (born again) but He will not renew your mind, you and you alone must change your thinking. Are you willing to change your behavior, because God won’t ‘make you do it’, He doesn’t operate that way. Renewing your mind requires adding new knowledge (the Bible), heeding what you hear (taking action), and walking by faith one day at a time. Like Israel who followed Joshua into the promise land, your growth won’t stop unless you stop following God’s direction. If today is your Day of Crossing Over, leave the old behind and enter into your new life. Many decisions to change fail because people are unwilling to let go of ‘what is behind’ so they can take hold of ‘what lies ahead’. Consider praying to God and asking him what you should ‘leave-behind’ so you can take hold of what lies-ahead.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- What are ‘replacement and renewal’ behaviors need to take place in your life?
- What’s thoughts from your old self do you need to replace with Bible thoughts from God’s word?
- What does it mean to ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind?’
Principle: For there to be a ‘New You’, you must choose which old thoughts to remove and which new thoughts will replace them, or else you will fall back into old patterns.
