Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today is New Year’s Eve. As people plan to reflect and celebrate turning the page on the calendar to a new year, the Holy Spirit is inspiring me to close the year recommitting to living our new lives in and for Christ.

In Today’s scripture, Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT), Paul resolves…
[12] I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. [13] No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Consider…
The chorus of the popular New Year’s Eve song that will be sung at many celebrations say…

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

According to Oxford Languages…

• ‘auld lang syne’ means times long past
• ‘for auld lang syne’ means for old times’ sake

This fond goodbye to yesteryear reminds me of revisionist who fondly remember the ‘good old days’.

I personally think more fitting song lyrics to close out the year come from a hymn…

We’ve come this far by faith,
Leaning on the Lord.
Trusting in his holy word.
He’s never failed us yet.
Oh, oh- oh- can’t turn around,
We’ve come this far by faith.

Those lyrics make me think of Psalms 119:105 (NLT)…Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

For those of us who walked through 2025 by faith 2 Corinthians 5:7 we should fondly reflect God’s Word, and Spirit, guiding us through another year.

More lyrics from the hymn say…

Just remember the good things He has done.
Things that seemed impossible.
Oh, praise Him for the vict’ries He has won.
He has won!

This led me to find David’s Psalms 18:35-36 (NLT)…
[35] You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great. [36] You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.

As well as, Psalms 3:5 (NLT)…
[5] I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.

These reflective verses spun another hymn’s lyrics that testify…

If it had not been for the Lord on my side
Where would I be? Where would I be?
If it had not been for the Lord on my side
Where would I be? Where would I be?

He kept my enemies away
He let the sun shine through a cloudy day
Oh, he wrapped me in the cradle of his arms
When he knew I’d been battered and torn
So..

As you fondly remember another year gone by, realize it’s the LORD who brought you safely through.

That just triggered more nostalgic lyrics from the late great Andrae Crouch…

[Verse 1]
I’ve had many tears and sorrows
I’ve had questions for tomorrow
There’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong
But in every situation
God gave me blessed consolation
That my trials came to only make me strong

[Verse 2]
I’ve been to lots of places
I’ve seen a lot of faces
But there were times that I felt so all alone
But in my lonely hours
Yes, those precious lonely hours
Jesus lets me know that I was His own
That’s the reason I say

[Chorus]
Through it all
Mm, Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Let me tell you that

Through it all, oh
Through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word

[Verse 3]
So I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
And I thank Him for the storms He’s brought me through
For if I’d ever had a problem
I’d never know that God could solve them
I’d never know what faith in God could do
That’s the reason I say that

[Chorus]
Through it all
Mm, Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Let me tell you that

Through it all, oh
Through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word

Prayerfully, through last year we truly…

• learned to trust in Jesus
• learned to trust in God
• learned to depend upon His Word

Speaking of learning, Ephesians 4:20-24 (NLT) nicely transitions us from reflection to resolution. Paul wrote…
[20] But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. [21] Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, [22] throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. [23] Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. [24] Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Paul tells us that what we learned should cause us to completely change how we live.

Practically speaking he went on to illustrate what he meant with examples in Ephesians 4:25-31 (NLT)…
[25] So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. [26] And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] for anger gives a foothold to the devil. [28] If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. [29] Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. [30] And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

There’s a popular saying, “Out with the old, in with the new” that means to replace old things or ideas with new ones.

Paul’s next verse follows that pattern. He end the chapter, and the examples of getting rid of our sinful nature with Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)…Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Paul spent all verses 25-31 telling us practically what to throw off, and verse 32 succinctly what to put on.

The Apostle repeats that pattern in Colossians 3:7-10 (NLT)…
[7] You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. [8] But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. [9] Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. [10] Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Notice the subtle change in tone here, Paul says ‘you used too’ rather than ‘throw off’. The Holy Spirit is telling me that’s important because whether we’re still throwing off our old nature or have thrown elements of it off already, is not the focal point.

Indeed, what God wants us to focus on most is obediently becoming new, not just stopping what we used to do.

Still, as 2025 winds down, hopefully we can say that we “have stripped off our old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.” But here’s where our holy resolve must begin from verse 10…
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

As we reflect on letting go of the old let’s resolve to become more new like Christ.

Like 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) says…
[17] This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

We’re new people, living a new life in Christ. Therefore, we need to stop regretting the and instead resolve to living new.

Romans 8:1-2 (NLT) reminds us…
[1] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. [2] And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

God has given us the power of His life-giving Spirit to live new.

However, we must recognize that just having the power isn’t enough, we must have the resolve to submit to, and obey Him.

Romans 6:16-22 (NLT) explains…
[16] Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. [17] Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. [18] Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. [19] Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. [20] When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. [21] And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. [22] But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

A great 2026 resolution would be to be a slave to Him (God), instead of sin.

What if 1 Peter 1:14-16 (NLT) was our motus operandi this coming year…
[14] So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. [15] But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. [16] For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

In other words, what if resolved to obey better because we know better!?!

The Holy Spirit is saying that as the lyrics of today’s song testify, God wants us to resolve…

I don’t wanna hear anymore, teach me to listen
I don’t wanna see anymore, give me a vision
That you could move this heart, to be set apart

I don’t need to recognize, the man in the mirror
And I don’t wanna trade Your plan, for something familiar
I can’t waste a day, I can’t stay the same

I wanna be different
I wanna be changed
‘Til all of me is gone
And all that remains
Is a fire so bright
The whole world can see
That there’s something different
So come and be different
In me

Let that become your heart’s cry as you say goodbye to 2025 and resolve to obey God better in 2026 and beyond, if the Lord says the same.

Resolve to be different so the world can see that there’s Someone different in you.

In the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20 (NKJV), resolve…
[20] I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Today’s song is…
Different

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)