I, yes, I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. Isaiah 43:25 (TLB)
One of my favorite verses to meditate on for New Year’s Day is Isaiah 43:19: “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (NLT). These words fill me with excitement the same way hanging a new calendar on the wall does. A new year stretches ahead with new experiences and adventures, new friends to make, and fresh opportunities to serve Christ and grow to be more like Him. But cleaning out my pantry last week helped me understand that before we can embrace the new, we may need to get rid of some of the old.
To make room for the beautiful ceramic baking dishes I’d bought, I threw out old plastic storage containers that had cracked or missing lids. I tossed canned and boxed foods that had passed their expiration dates. I pared down our collection of travel mugs and tumblers to the ones we actually use. Next week I plan to look over the bookcases in our house and pull out a few volumes to give away, making space for the reference books I just ordered.
Before we make plans for the new year ahead, we would do well to engage in some serious self-evaluation to see what we need to get rid of. Habits that compromise our walk with Christ. Doubts that keep us from using our gifts to fully serve Him. And especially guilt and regret over past failures and sins. Just a few verses after God promises to do new things, we see His promise to not only forgive our sins when we repent, but never think about them again. And neither should we.
Faith Step: Ask Jesus to show you what you need to throw out so you can fully receive the new things He has planned for you this year.
