“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
As last year came to a close, I thought long and hard about this very day. The beginning of a new year. The things I want to improve on, projects I need to begin, certain things I need to close the door on, millions of so called "resolutions" floating in my mind. However, one really stood out and seemed to sort of trump all of my other aspirations and wants for this year of 2014.
I remember the day I realized that in this life, it has absolutely nothing to do with what you look on the outside, but who you are on the inside. A very simple lesson for some, but to me this was mind blowing. I had to work on my character? My morals? My attitude, mindset and heart? I kind of hated this new revelation. Fast forward almost 3 years, and to this day, it is what's most constantly on mind. Who am I? What kind of woman do I want to be seen as? When people talk about me, what would I want them to say? Am I the best I can be? How do I come across as a person, better yet- how well am I representing the Lord?
If people are not drawn to me because of the Lord and how on fire I am for Him, it's either one of two things. Either they are not paying attention to me enough to notice, or I need to check myself and re-evaluate what I bring to the table. It's so important to really think about and discover who you are, and better yet who you really want to be. I think that's one of the most difficult things to do in this life. However, it is so necessary and so worth it. Going into this New Year, my relationship with the Lord needs to stand on a much higher pedestal. I need to evaluate and eliminate any actions, habits or lack there of that do not glorify Him, or push me towards the young woman I was created to be. Words like discipline, patience and trust really need to come into play. Not just as words, but as actions, as conscious efforts. The more I focus on these things, everything else will fall into place.
Weather it be going to the Word before you go to people, speaking nonsense instead of letting the Lord guide your conversation, tapping more into the Holy Spirit and being courageous enough to step into a deeper and newer understanding of things you have shied away from in the bible, beginning every day with the Word of God, or with prayer, whatever it may be. To begin this year, take a minute to really think about who you are and where you're at, compared to where and who you want to be- the person that the Lord has called you to be, because it is so much more. Take those steps towards working on whatever it is that does not reflect Him in the most glorifying manor. When people talk to me, when people look at me, when people are around me, I want them to see one thing and one thing only- and that is Him. We are solely here for Him, and once we begin down that road of trying to understand that more and more, we will become better examples and really experience the blessing of being who the Lord has created us to be.
Going into this New Year, take it one step at a time. With Him and for Him, little by little, lets become those people.
