
Out With The Old, In With The New!
“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both
the wine and the wineskins will be ruined.”
(St. Mark 2: 22)
As we approach the end of a new year, it is important that we reflect on the events that have come and gone throughout this year; observe closely our present status, and prepare to enter our immediate future which lies in the new year ahead. Whether your outlook on the new year is optimistic or pessimistic time is moving on and we will step into the new year in just a matter of days. Regardless of what has happened throughout this year, it is impossible to negate God’s faithfulness. He was faithful in the past, He is faithful right now in the present, and He will be faithful in the future. Clearly, we serve a God whose plans for us, and His desire to bless us never changes. God’s plan for your life is ever evolving. Actually, His plan is so magnificent that our finite minds could never contain the vastness of it all if it was revealed to us in its entirety!
So, as we go throughout the final days of this year, enjoying our holiday celebrations, picking up those last-minute gifts, filling our homes with the delightful aromas of freshly baked goodies, let’s not forget to prepare ourselves for what is soon to follow — the entrance of a new year. Sure, it is customary to talk about our new year’s resolutions and even substantiate them by writing them down and posting them where they become visible reminders. But, what is the real meaning of a resolution? Webster describes it as a thing determined upon; a decision as to future action. I would like to toss in my own one-word definition that applies to most of us — and that is change!
The Bible tells us that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning, and further explains that He desires to do a new thing in us now! However, if we closely examine the scripture above, we find that putting a new thing in an old vessel or container will result in ruin. If God has new things in store for us that we’ve never experienced before, in order for us to see those promises and blessings revealed we must change some things. A gift of promise cannot be fulfilled in a vessel of doubt, fear, bitterness, guilt, animosity, failures, open wounds, unforgiveness, low self-esteem, and the list goes on. God’s desire is for the beauty of His love to be revealed in a vessel that is a clear and shining reflection of Him. Not one that is dark and clouded with despair and only displaying the sharp vicissitudes of a life void of total trust in Him.
Considering that you have spent much time preparing your home, preparing your family, preparing your workspace; now why not prepare YOURSELF to receive the blessings that await you in this coming new year!
I am going to take some time to PREPARE MYSELF, and to enjoy this blessed season with my family and friends. I’ll return in the new year with more exciting words to share that I pray will bless and encourage your life.
MY FAMILY AND I WISH YOU A VERY BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
Source: First Lady Denise