With the start of the new year, comes along those long awaited "New Years resolutions" that everyone comes up with. Personally I have never had a New Years resolution, which may be because there has never been something at the the time I thought I needed or due to the fact that a resolution really is just a choice like any other. Now if it takes the ringing in of a new year to get someone to admit they need to change something and if that is the motivational push they need then by all means go for it. But if you stop and think about it, can't every day be like a new year? Every second of every day we are faced with a choice and each of those choices comes with a consequence. Looking both ways before crossing the street, giving that homeless man a couple dollars, getting in the drivers seat after getting drinks with coworkers. Each day we can choose the path that we want to take.

With God every day is new. Not even every day, every second is a chance to be redeemed and made new through Christ. The burdens carried and the past that is being shamed is no longer an issue to him and truthfully it never was. The New Year can give us a push to make that much needed resolution but six months later when that cigarette smell is so strong in the streets and your hands are shaking from the withdrawal is the new year going to be the thing giving you strength? No God is going to be giving you the words you need to push past each day and he is going to occupy your hands with something other than that bottle of alcohol or that chocolate donut. Whatever the demon that you need deliverance from God is the one who will deliver you from that very thing holding you down.

I choose to start fresh every day with God because I know that a resolution will not keep me from making mistakes. Whether it be a simple or complex task that I am trying to hold to I am a forgetful person who sins after sin after sin. I can't trust myself with a resolution but I can trust God with my revolution. The revolution of change in my heart and in my life to continue to grow and to be a better version of myself.

All throughout the Bible, God shows us great stories of forgiveness and redemption of his people. He uses the story of the prodigal son to represent how no matter how far off you have gone from God he will always welcome you with open arms if you admit yourself to him and come with open arms. In the story of Saul's transformation to becoming Paul he starts off as one who proclaims blasphemy against Jesus and slanders his name but despite all that God chooses him to proclaim the name of Jesus to the Gentiles. God picks us as broken and bent as we are and still decides that he loves us. A new year does not mean a new me, but a graceful God does mean a FREE me.