We all do

“You will be my people, and I will be your God.” Jeremiah 30:22

There is an old, dumb story about a revival taking place in a small town. As the preacher calls the sinners forward, down the aisle comes the town character who is always fortified by cheap wine. As he walks down the aisle he says aloud “Fill me, Lord! Fill me, Lord!”. Hearing his plea, one of the audience members says loudly, “Don’t do it, Lord, he leaks.”

Truth is, we all do! I read a statistic recently that said only 1 in 3 of us make resolutions anymore and most break their resolutions within the first couple of months. We all leak. We all fail. We may give it our very best shot, but we all fall short. Because we fail over and over again, many of us give up. We don’t make resolutions. We don’t try to change.

What if we looked at the New Year as a time of new possibilities instead of half-hearted resolutions? What if we resolved to more of what we could be instead of less of what we already are? What if we could look back at the old year and let God have the last word: forgiveness? What if we could look forward to a new year with the belief that God is there ahead of us and guiding us to a new life?

Our God is a God of second (third, etc.) chances and of forgiveness. Our God is a God who leads and directs our paths, as we are willing. Let us embrace our new year with the understanding that God is all around us. Let us open our eyes to the direction and guidance that comes our way.