New Years Post

I wanted to post something for New Years, but I found myself drawing a blank for anything inspirational. Then, I began thinking of the Five Iron Frenzy Song, “New Years Eve.” This song seemed to be their commentary of how we usually spend New Year’s Eve – celebrating the past year and toasting to a new and better year than before without really considering God in all of it.

Here are the lyrics:

It's New Years Eve and I'm full of empty promises,

I half pretend to keep this time, just like last year.

The band is loud and I'm wandering the shadows,

wishing I was never here. I persevere.

A crowded room, these whitewashed tombs,

they raise their glasses high, they kiss the past goodbye.

This New Years Eve, I'm waiting for tomorrow.

My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe,

this New Years Eve, will turn out better than before,

I'm holding on, still holding out, until they close the door... on me.

It's New Years Eve and I feel my insecurities,

are haunting me like ghosts, this sinking quicksand.

then with thunderous praise and lofty adoration,

a second passes by, yet nothing changes.

I hate my skin, this grave I'm standing in.

Another change of years, and I wish I wasn't here.

A year goes by and I'm staring at my watch again,

and I dig deep this time, for something greater than I've ever been,

life to ancient wine skins. And I was blind but now I see.

This New Years Eve, something must change me inside,

I'm crooked and misguided, and tired of being tired.

This New Years Eve, I'm waiting for tomorrow.

My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe, in You.

The New Year celebrations often lack something essential – sincerity and devotion to something greater than ourselves. We make our resolutions and vow to lose weight, get in shape, stop this or that, find something new, get something new, and overall just be better than last year. There usually isn’t any mention of God. So what was so wrong with last year that we need to do better?

2012 started out horribly for me, and continued to be rather painful until August. That was when I realized how much bitterness I carried around for myself and others, and how it was slowly pulling me deeper and deeper into despair. Over the last six months I have spent much time in prayer, forgiving others, forgiving myself, learning to love myself (because how can we love our neighbor as ourselves unless we love ourselves?), and experiencing the love and grace of God in a new and powerful way. In 2012 I realized truly how wretched I was, and how merciful God was, and that He truly did abound in loving kindness for me. In 2012 God began to heal my marriage and my insecurities. Yes, 2012 started out really poorly, but it ended well, not because of any physical changes (and yes, there were physical changes), but because of the spiritual awakening I received.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 says:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

What is so interesting about this passage is that most people only read verse 11, and then stop. The key to verse 11 though, is verses 12-14. God has a good plan for all of us, but why should be bless us with it when we are turned from him? Remember the context of this passage. The Jews have been conquered and taken into exile and God let it happen because of their disobedience. But here God is saying that it’s not over yet. He still has a plan for them and will give them hope and a future if they come and pray to Him, and seek Him with all their hearts.

So as we make our New Year’s resolutions this year, let us not forget God in all of them. Let us resolve to seek Him with all our hearts. The weight loss, new car, new job, new whatever pales in comparison to having a thriving relationship with our Creator. Let us be honest with ourselves, and not make promises we don’t intend to keep, but declare our faith in our Lord and Savior, and give the One who can make all things new full reign in our lives. Let us desire to know Him more first, because everything else is just gravy after that.