The New You In 2017 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

The New You In 2017

We all want to change something about ourselves!

11
The New You In 2017
Sertoma Website

During the Christmas break, I was blessed with the opportunity to go on a ski trip with my college ministry. The leader of the trip challenged the college students to reflect on the past year and come up with one thing we would like to change about ourselves in the upcoming 2017. Before this moment I had never realized the importance of personal reflection in our lives. Most people celebrate the new year by making New Year's resolutions, but this had never been a big part of my childhood. Lately, I've been meditating about how we can change according to the Bible.

Before we begin the process of transformation, we first need to examine our hearts. I have personally found that many times I want to change something about myself for the wrong reasons. It may be a good thing to pursue, but if it is not for the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ, we are missing out on the point entirely. For example, I may want to become a more humble person, but the real reason behind my determination is to impress the pretty girl who sits next to me in class with how "godly" I am. Luke 16:15 says, "And He said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.'"

We are called to be image-bearers of Christ; to live in such a manner, we must be continually throwing off our sin and changing into someone who resembles more of Christ. The first step of change is identifying the major struggles/sins in your life. Romans 3:20b says, "... for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." In Romans 7:7 Paul argues, "I would not have come to know sin except through the Law." God's law is written throughout scripture, and its standard is holiness. When we measure ourselves up to a perfect standard we can begin identifying on what needs to change.


The most common belief which messes up the process of transformation is believing that you have the power to change yourself. We must reflect on God's standard of pure holiness to ultimately understand how far we fall short. We cannot change ourselves without God's intervention. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to develop us from the inside out. True change comes from a recognition of our sinful state and the contemplation of the glorious grace of God.

Romans 12:2a says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,". The process of "renewing your mind" comes from revisiting the scene of the cross. So many Christians know the importance of God's grace in salvation, but fail to recognize that it is God's grace that sanctifies us. You have to desire change before you can be changed. When we observe the story of the cross and Jesus' sacrifice for us, our only response is worship. Worship fundamentally revamps the desires of our heart. We want to become more like Christ because we recognize His goodness. We desire to change ourselves out of sheer gratitude for the cross.

The truth is that God's grace is always available to us. God's grace not only saves us, but also sanctifies, strengthens, and sustains us. Dr. Pace (one of my professors at OBU) gives this illustration about grace. He says that most people think of grace as a hamster wheel. They think we have to drive the hamster wheel of grace by exercising the spiritual disciplines to produce the power of change. Dr. Pace believes that the picture of grace is more of a turbine. God's grace is constantly flowing over us, and we use the spiritual disciplines as "buckets" to catch the "water" of God's grace and generate immense power.

Again, we do not have the power to change ourselves. We must focus on the cross and rely on the Holy Spirit for the power of true transformation. If we ponder God's grace throughout the day, we will see change and our New Year's resolutions might actually come to fruition!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

198278
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

19698
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

461514
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28666
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments