New Year? Time to Clean House

Welcoming in a new year gives us hope that this year will be better than the last. With new beginnings it gives most of us a sense of wanting to make changes, changes in ourselves, our careers, relationships or home.

In January in my area it starts getting dark around four in the evening, and the cold winter air can really make us feel blah. So, to give myself a sense of some newness, I start rearranging furniture, clean out closets, or organizing papers. Somehow it just makes me feel better when things are different, or a sense of newness. I don’t really commit to making New Year’s resolutions, although I do think about things that I would like to do or change in the New Year. First on my list, is God.

I think about my relationship to God and what changes might be in order this year. Even though every day, (not just because it’s a new year) is a day to work on our relationship, somehow, looking back over the past year I may not have accomplished some of the goals I would have liked.

Just like cleaning house and getting things in order, ask yourself what is inside you that could use a change? Are you still hanging on to something that you know may not be pleasing to God, but you are still struggling with it? What positive changes could you do, that would help strengthen your relationship to God?

If we were to be honest with ourselves, there would probably be enough things to make a list. Do we anger easily, do we judge others, do we have relationships that are broken? Are we hanging on to our old lifestyles or still doing some of the same things we did before we accepted Christ? Are we running with the world, watching television programs that we certainly wouldn’t turn on if Jesus was in the room? Are we filling our minds with Godly things, or things that are not of God? Are we not forgiving others when we should, are we taking time for God? God already knows what you need to work on, but taking the time to reflect on ourselves, we may see where changes may be in order.

• Is there an addiction in your life? Is there something that you are struggling with, food, drugs, alcohol, materialism, something that seems to be controlling your life?

If we allow anything to control our lives so much, then God is not first in our lives. We love the addiction, or object, putting that first. It then becomes like a false God to us, a form of idol worship.

Psalms 106:36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them

• Do you place God first in your life? Do you have a place where you can go without distractions to just sit and in solitude and quiet listening to him? Just a peaceful time, not studying or praying, (although that’s important too) but a time to allow God to speak to your heart?

Jesus was so busy with people trying to be healed and hear his messages, yet scripture shows us that even he took time in solitude to be with the Father.

Matthew 14:23  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

• Do you take time for studying Gods Word? How much time each day do you reflect on a verse, or reflect on a subject from the Bible? Do you ask God when you pick up that Bible to guide you and help you understand? If you give God 10 minutes a week, would you feel comfortable with God giving you that same amount of attention?

In order to better understand God and what he wants in our life we must study the Word. There is so much to God and his Word that we will always be learning from it, even if we have read it over and over, God will communicate to us through that Word. Even the disciples in the early churches asked that we study on the doctrine and the written word.

1 Timothy 4:13  Until I come, attend to reading, exhortation, to teaching.

• Do you pray daily? Do you ask God for things that you want, or do you ask him for things he wants for you? Having faith in him, no matter what life brings.
  

Some pray only when there are struggles, asking for help for themselves or someone else. We have a wonderful way to communicate to God anytime we want and no matter where we are. Prayer should also be a time to thank him and to speak what’s on our hearts. Jesus, as close to God as he was when he was on earth, took time to pray.

Philippians 4:6  In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

• Do you stand up for your beliefs? Many Christians believe they won’t be popular or accepted if they tell someone the truth of God’s Word. They don’t want to sound judgmental, they want to sound more politically correct bending God’s Word because of their fear of others.
  

There are pastors of churches bending God’s Word in order to not offend, not teaching on hell or sin, so as not to upset people. We must take a stand on God’s Word and just like Paul correct those who would give way to false teachings, or acceptance of picking and choosing what suits them. It’s called falling away from the truth.

Ephesians 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

1 Timothy 4:1  But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons,

Take time to look at your own heart, to try to see yourself from possibly how God may view you. How are you glorifying God? God loves us so much that he gave us his only son. We can see in all our daily blessings large and small the love that God has for us. How strong is our love for him? What are we doing for God to show him how much we love him? With God’s help we can overcome many of those things that may not be pleasing him and strengthen our relationship to him. Give glory to God, pleasing him and being in a state of grace, so that we can experience the love and fullness of God in our lives. It’s not just a daily walk with God, it’s a journey of a lifetime.