Clean Slate

It's January 1. Today is the day where everyone has their lists ready to go and ready for a clean slate. A new beginning. A new book. The first page out of 365. Sure it's hard not to think of things that I want to change to better myself. With this year, I'm starting this blog. More importantly with this new year, I don't want to change the physical, material aspects of my life. Instead of promising to work out everyday, eat more healthy, study harder, become more organized I have my eyes set on one thing- the Lord.

Lots of people in the momentum of the resolution craze are thinking of things they are ready to change in their lives. "This new year I want to be happier." "This new year I want to know love." "This new year I want to feel safe." "This new year I want something more." Here is the best news ever: You can have all these things. If you've tried to accomplish these goals before and it didn't quite work out or it failed miserably, you were most likely doing it all wrong. All these things and infinitely more can be yours- if you trust in the Lord.

God is so incredibly powerful. He gave His Son up for you. His Son, Jesus Christ, came down to Earth as a man, just like you and me. He experienced all the temptations of the world and remained perfect. Without sin. After all of this he then experience an excruciating death for you. Because he died on a cross you can now have a personal relationship with God. Before this, our sinful, unperfect nature kept us from God. God can not be with sin because He is perfect. Now, Jesus has filled in the gap between you and God. Now you can have a relationship with the almighty, powerful, loving, graceful, merciful, perfect Father. God is ready for you. He loves you and can't wait to call you his child.

With this new year, if you are really ready for a life change, call on God. He is waiting. He loves you! This is the moment.

If you are afraid of a commitment of this magnitude, know He will cover those fears in love.
If you don't understand it all, know "sometimes our brains are our own worst enemies because grace isn't logical." -Judah Smith
If you feel hopeless, know that He is there.
If you feel that you are disqualified because of your past, know that "God's reckless grace is our greatest hope." -Tim Keller
If you are nervous of what people might think, know that He will make you brave.

Most importantly never forget, "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."