Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season. For many, the New Year represents an opportunity for a fresh new start. New Years resolutions are a common theme this time of year. New Years resolutions usually revolve around self-improvement. Here are some of the most common New Years resolutions:
- Lose weight
- Eat healthier or change diet
- Exercise more, get fit: Physically, mentally, and emotionally.
- Get organized.
- Spend more time with family and friends.
- Sort out finances and cut back spending
- Travel more
- Take up a new hobby, sport or other interest
It’s no surprise that losing weight and exercise always tops the list every year. When we lived in Charlotte, I had a membership to the YMCA, and worked out regularly. There were times when I would slack off, but I remained pretty consistent in the 14 years we lived there. It was always interesting to me how crowded the gym became after New Years. It was a little frustrating the first few years. Where did all these people come from? It took longer to work out because there was so much more competition to use equipment. The locker rooms were crowded too, which always made me feel uncomfortable. After a few years, I realized that the crowds and increased activity at the gym wouldn’t last very long and by February things would settle down and get back to normal because New Years resolutions typically only last for about a month.
According to polls, about 68% give up on resolutions even earlier than that. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with New Years resolutions or that we shouldn’t make them. I’ve made a few over the years too. I think its great to use the New Year as an opportunity for self-improvement, but when the resolutions run out of gas we shouldn’t beat ourselves up too much. There is nothing magical about January 1st. We can hit the refresh button at any time.
Basically, this is meant to be an encouragement for those who may have already called it quits on their new years transformations. “Robby, it’s only January 7th!” I know, but you may already be “hangry” (angry because your hungry) from the diet you just started last week, or incredibly sore from the new work out routine. Been there done that.
I’m really not trying to be a Debbie downer. I’m cheering for all those who are starting the New Year with a bang. Go for it! But for those who may have already thrown in the towel or are thinking about it, don’t be discouraged. There is good news. You can start over again tomorrow. Tomorrow is a new day. No one-day is better than another. The sun will rise tomorrow, and we’ll get a new 24. God has designed it that way, a daily reset.
One of my dad’s favorite answers for all that troubled me was to get a good night sleep and that tomorrow was a new day, a day to start all over again, to see things differently. It was a reset. Like when our devices aren’t working properly, we’re told by a technician to turn them off and restart them. Sometimes that’s all we need to get things back on track and working again. Sometimes our brains just need a reboot. Even though I’m not a morning person, there is something about watching the sun come up for a new day. It’s a powerful transformation from dark to light, and a daily reminder that God is still at work in all of creation.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
While we may not always faithfully follow through with our new years resolutions or succeed in all our plans to do better, there is always one constant and unchanging reality; God is always faithful and His love never fails. We may fail, but He will never fail us. His compassions or mercies are new and fresh every morning.
Love y’all! Have a great weekend!
Weekly Devotional by Robby Morris, Director of Family Ministry & Facility Coordinator @ Andrews UMC.
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