In With The New

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”


Isaiah 43:18–19



Social media is littered with quips and meme’s as well as sage advice on how to end 2021 and to beckon in the New Year. You read things like, “forget the past, embrace the present and plan for the future” expressed in many different ways and most of us would agree is the healthiest way to move forward as well as enjoying the now. In numerous conversations this week I have been asked, “how do I let go of the past if no one around me will?” That’s a great question which demonstrates why our relationships are so important to us. It’s been well said, “You're the average of the five people spend the most time with,” a quote attributed most often to motivational speaker Jim Rohn. I don’t know if that is true but I personally like, “show me your friends and I'll show you your future”.

The best way to get where you need to go in 2022 is to determine to not go it alone. Surround yourself with people who are going where you are going. Better still, surround yourself with people who are going where God is going. God created us for intimacy and community. That’s the beauty of the body of Christ, the purpose for God creating the church and with whom Jesus gave His life for. The bride of Christ is the church and its in the church where you see the gifts of God on full display as the apostle Paul points out in Ephesians 4:16, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

If you truly desire to let go of the past and embrace the present as you walk into your future let me encourage you to walk with God, follow His lead and enjoy the changes He brings in 2022. Take the apostle Paul’s words to heart in Ephesians 4:20-24 where he reminds us, “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

The world celebrates New Years once a year. Followers of Christ have the opportunity to experience newness every morning and to shed our past lives and start fresh when we comes to Christ. Heres my three favorite verses to keep in mind as a year comes to a close and a New Year is set to begin.

Lamentations 3:22-23, “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”


2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Happy New Year!

I LOVE YOU!