By Doug Creamer
Crossing Over
We have arrived in 2026! We’ve started to clean up from Christmas…on the outside. I haven’t completed putting everything away. I haven’t even thought about starting the Christmas tree yet. To be honest, I enjoy the tree being up into early January because things are often so rushed on the build up to Christmas that it’s difficult to slow down and enjoy the tree. Besides, it’s a lot of work to take down.
Once we all put our Christmas lights away, winter settles in for real. The best part about winter is SNOW! I have been watching the models closely and have seen some hints of snow on the horizon, but nothing definite. So I will watch and wait to see what Old Man Winter brings our way.
People will often make resolutions at this time of year. People join the gym and work out, trying to get the bathing suit body back. The holidays offer us lots of great food, which likes to stick with us as we enter the new year. People make themselves go to the gym to shed some of those unwanted pounds, but the will power to change often runs out.
Our resolutions aren’t just focused on our physical bodies. We want our spirits to be stronger so we will come up with these types of resolutions: “I will read the Bible through twice this year!” “I will pray for an hour every day!” While these sound like great resolutions, they are very difficult to sustain. Life happens and we get busy, and when the pressures overwhelm us, these lofty resolutions become oppressive and strangling, so we give up.
When we strive to do things in our own strength through sheer will power, we often end up failing. Unless there is something driving us to make changes, generally we are going to drift away from our resolutions. Our spirit may desire change, but our flesh is weak. Our flesh will resist and fight the spirit, and unless it is a God thing the flesh will win out.
The way I see it, most resolutions are born out of our desires. So we have to put all the effort in and we know the results of that. We rarely seek God and ask Him what He wants to see different in our lives. The truth is God loves us just the way we are…BUT He wants to mold us and make us into the image of His Son Jesus. He wants to make us into vessels of honor that can carry His Spirit and love to the world around us.
The place we all need to begin the new year is in His presence. We need to rediscover that God loves us – remember, we just celebrated His birth. God likes us – He created us for fellowship and desires to be with us. He accepts us – He calls us His sons and daughters. If we can see God from that perspective then we can understand that the changes He wants to bring in our lives are for our own good. He wants to help us, heal us, restore us, and bless us!
We begin the journey drawing closer to Him. We can ask Him what He wants to do. What does He want to see different in our lives? Then we have to trust Him and work with Him to see the changes develop in our lives. Sometimes He will take us through the refining fire. Sometimes He will take us through challenges and difficulties. Sometimes we are called to go through circumstances to grow a deeper, stronger faith and trust in God.
Do you see the thread in what I wrote? He is working with us. We are working with Him. It’s not our will power or desire that is driving the change. It’s His Spirit that is motivating us, molding us, encouraging us, and helping us to make the changes. These changes will endure. They are motivated by love and filled with grace.
I want to encourage you not to make resolutions this year, but to seek His face for what He wants to do in and through your life this year. God has made good plans for your year. He wants to bless you! He wants to prosper you! He wants your year to be filled with hope, grace, mercy, and His deep everlasting love. The year will have its ups and downs, but you will be secure in His love and peace. His joy will fill your heart. Start the year in His presence and discover a journey you will never forget!
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
