Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

Devotion

There is something about “newness” that is so exciting. There is an unknown before us. There is unlimited potential. 

As a kid, do you remember putting on a new pair of shoes for the first time? I felt invincible! Maybe you remember when P.F. Flyer shoes came on the market. If you are too young to remember that, those are the shoes Benny the Jet wears in the movie The Sandlot.

The ad campaign for P.F. Flyers said they were “guaranteed to make you run faster and jump higher.”

Every new pair of shoes made me feel that way. Never mind the fact that at 12 years old, I was chunky, slow, and had the vertical leap of about a phone book. I had new shoes! No one could stop me.

We even try to recreate that new feeling sometimes. You can buy air fresheners for your car with a “new car” scent. Let’s try and make your car smell like it did before you let that french fry sit underneath the seat for a year or two. Before drinks were spilled, before boxes with various smelly contents were loaded and unloaded, before you stepped in something and had no idea until you got all buckled into the car and pulled out onto the busy street. We’ve all been there!

We want to capture that new feeling again. That naivety. That promise. That excitement.

Right now, we’re experiencing that within our lives. The calendar has turned over. 2024 is behind us and 2025 is before us.

This time of year always makes us introspective. We like to look back at the people we have become and dream about the people we could be. We want to improve ourselves. We want to be better off this year than we were last year. 

This is the time for those famed New Year’s resolutions.

Statistics tell us most of these resolutions won’t make it through the month of February. For me, that statistic might even be a little ambitious. My list of resolutions that haven’t made it through January could probably fill a notebook.

Because of this, I used to be one of those people who thought New Year’s resolutions were a little cliche. Everybody is going to make them; no one is going to finish them. What is all the fuss about?

Now, I think I’ve changed my mind! In the last couple of years, I’ve begun to be more excited about the changing of the calendar and the idealistic dreams that come with it. Now I say, go big. Set some resolutions. Fail at them. But keep thinking about the person you could become. 

This year, take it one step further. Ask a bigger question. We often find ourselves asking, “What type of person do I want to become?”

This year, ask yourself, “What kind of person does God want me to become?”

The truth is that we are being shaped and formed by something every day. It happens slowly. It happens subtly. And before long, we may come to realize we haven’t been formed by Christ in a long time.

You might start that Bible reading plan now and fall off the wagon in February. That’s okay! 

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just keep choosing to be discipled by Christ.

Put on that new pair of shoes.

Hang up that “new car” scent.

Take this opportunity to start again.

PRAYER

Lord, you are the God of second chances. Thank you for this yearly reminder of our new lives in Christ and for the fresh start you give to each of us who ask you. I know I am being renewed day-by-day by your love and grace. Help me to take this opportunity to be intentional about who and what is shaping my life. Continue to mold me into the person you have called me to be. In Jesus holy name I pray. Amen

Jared Chambers
Location Pastor at Crossings Mayfair

Jared gets to teach a little and learn a lot with the great people at Crossings Mayfair.

Resources

• Listen to the 5-Day Bible Reading Plan with Lance Ward.
• Read Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer and join us for this Wednesday Night Class at Crossings Mayfair!
• Read The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.

Read More Devotions

Explore other devotions like this one any time at crossings.church/devotions.