I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard the phrase: “New Year, New Life”. At the end of the year, here in Brazil this sentence is posted on the social media and said by family members, friends, pastors… It is a typical end-of-year sentence.
During this period of the year I have the habit of briefly reflecting on my year: what got better, what got worse, the best moments, the worst, among other points. A former leader once also encouraged me to think about something I take into my life: what about my relationship with God? Has it improved, worsened or stayed the same?
After all, regardless of all the other things that happened (if I got a job, got into the school/college I wanted, got a car, moved house), what matters most is my relationship with God. Everything loses value if I don’t dive deeper.
Relationship with God
Sometimes I find myself thinking about the ups and downs I’ve had throughout the year, including my relationship with God. After all, I’m not perfect. I always end up sinning and moving away from His presence a little, but the important thing is to always return to the Father’s feet.
One of the reasons we turn away from God is that we treat eternity as something future, not something present. And that way we are leaving the moments with the Father in the background.
“Oh, then I read the Bible, I have to sleep a little longer, God will understand”, “Oh, no, then I pray, I have to finish this book I’m reading”, “Oh, but fasting? Just now that we will have some parties and evenst”.
These are all phrases that you must have thought of at least once a year. However, there comes a certain time when we need to make our choice if we really want to change our lives.
New Year
Going back to that phrase “New Year, New Life”, it’s time for real and sincere change. It’s time to stop playing at being Son of God, because God doesn’t play at being God and the devil doesn’t play at being the devil.
Face this new year as another chance to change your life, to change your relationship with God. My pastor once said the following sentence: “External contacts with Jesus never saved anyone”.
No more external contacts and let’s begin to relate deeply and intimately with our God. May this year be a year of diving deeper and going where you’ve never been before. May it indeed be a New Year with a New Life.
Happy New Year, God bless,
Ana
