Colossians 3:9-10 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
A new year and a new me. According to Dannielle Haig, a business psychologist at DH Consulting, New Year’s resolutions date back to ancient times. ‘Ancient historians tell us that the Babylonians were making new year’s resolutions some 4000 years ago,’ she tells Metro.co.uk. ‘In various Abrahamic religions there is also a new year cleansing for a fresh beginning, so it would seem it’s an innate desire for humans to have a fresh start.’ The article goes on to say “This is because New Years are great signposts for reflection.‘New years come and go consistently and without a doubt, so it’s a good time for us to be working towards a goal,’
But here we are at the 12th of January and I wonder, are the resolutions of the 1st January already beginning to crumble.
In out text Paul encourages us to put on the ‘New Self’.
From an unknown source comes an article titled, "How To Be Miserable." It says, "Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use "I" as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favours shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others."
Where as the new self has to be the Christian’s ultimate goal. As Thomas a Kempis, said in the 14th Century said, “Let this be thy whole Endeavour, this thy prayer, this thy desire, that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only.”
If your heart is in the right place, then everything else in a person’s life will be right.” Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to make our hearts more like the loving and compassionate heart of Jesus.
Dear Lord, please help me to feel Your spirit deep within my heart. Help me to feel Your strength behind me, and to choose selflessness over selfishness. Help me to truly want to show compassion and kindness to other people, those that I know and those that I will never meet. Help me to realise that You love ALL of your children, including those that I may not like or respect, and those who themselves have chosen the wrong path. Help me to always keep that in mind and to look for ways to help, not hurt the people of Your world. Help my heart to overflow with Your love, and help me to spread that spectacular, sustaining love to those who are without it. Please smile as You recognise my sincere desires, and continue to bless me with opportunities to passionately bring Your peace and spirit to the lost members of Your earthly family. Amen.
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