Starting Off the New Year Right

A new year is upon us, and you know what that means, don’t you?

It’s time to get the next 12 months off to a great start.

Some of us may choose to make New Year’s resolutions. Others may prefer to think in terms of goals, objectives, or plans. Whatever lingo you choose, the challenge remains the same: making it happen.

That’s where things get tough because there’s nothing magical about the flip of the calendar. We are fundamentally the same person on January 1^st as we were on December 31^st. Willpower will only carry you so far.

The reason why is easier to grasp when you understand that the Greek word for “will” in the Bible is often translated as “desire.” The idea is that you’ll achieve your goal when your desires match your objectives. God’s will perfectly matches His desires, so He doesn’t stumble over internal conflicts.

We do because our desires are often in direct conflict with our goals. Take weight loss for example, a common goal for the new year. We may wish to lose twenty pounds, but if what we truly desire is to eat ice cream every night, we’ll soon find our willpower breaking down.

Our wishes are seldom strong enough to overcome our true desires for very long.

The solution is to focus on what controls our desires. Maybe we eat junk food to pacify some emotional pain. If that’s the case, resolving that inner struggle will likewise resolve our need to cover our pain.

The question is, how do we do that?

To find true inner healing that will help you discover and obtain a new life, there’s simply no substitute for the transforming power of God’s grace that makes us new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Starting Off the New Year Right,” you’ll hear from one of our most popular guests, author Dr. Kevin Leman, who reminds us that the God who spoke the universe into existence is able to meet us at our place of need and to help us grow and mature in Christ.

A new year symbolizes new beginnings, so right now is the perfect time to think about what you hope will be different 12 months from now and to trust Christ to help you make those changes.

Tune in to the program on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.

Dr. Leman is the author of the book Have a New You By Friday: How to Accept Yourself, Boost Your Confidence, and Change Your Life in 5 Days. I’d like to offer you a copy of it for a gift of any amount.

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