How to Have a Better Life This Year
By Doug Harrell
Mitchell County
Facing new adventures can bring excitement, worry, anxiety, and a host of other reactions to our minds. Most of the time when we think about a New Year we are just kinda ho-hum with the thought, just another day! Maybe we should look at it differently like we are putting the old behind us and looking at a new start. In reality, every day is a new day with fresh opportunities ahead. We need to learn from the days past but be aware that each sunrise brings a new dawning in our lives.
One of life’s greatest tragedies is that we tend to let our past control and color our expectations of the new day. The devil desires to remind us daily of our failures and mistakes, keep us in the wallow of self-doubt and despair. We have just gone through the Christmas celebrations and all that goes with that. We have celebrated the birth of the Christ Child, The Prince of Peace, the one that erased our past as far as the east is from the west. Why should we let the past hold us back? It should train us, not stop us from moving forward.
We hear all kinds of talk about New Years Resolutions and maybe this is the year to really be serious about that. Maybe we need to take a day and just really think about our lives and where we have been and where we are headed. As you have all probably heard the old saying, the height of stupidity is to keep doing the same thing and expect different results. If we are to have changed in our lives we must first change the inputs into our minds and our actions must change accordingly. Maybe this is the year that you decide to be more of the person that you have always wanted to be. Maybe a better father, mother, mate, or child. Maybe your focus should change to looking to the higher power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I just received a message as I was writing this telling me that a dear friend had just died and they wanted me to help with the funeral. This hits me right between the eyes as to how important it is for each of us to have our lives in order at all times. We never know the day or the time that the Lord may call us home and hopefully, each of you reading this article has an understanding of this and has a relationship with the Lord that is strong. Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble and trials but that through Him, we would overcome those trials and tribulations. Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. Only belief and faith in Jesus Christ can give us hope in times of trials and tribulations.
We have just gone through almost two years of fear and isolation because of the virus and all the things associated with that, afraid to visit family, go to church to worship, and continue with anything non-essential. It has seemed to me that we did not fear going to Walmart or other big box stores, they were full anytime you went there but the churches were empty for much of the time. Maybe this is a year that you will make a personal decision that worship and giving thanks are as essential as feeding your body from the neck down, maybe we need to focus 2022 on feeding ourselves from the neck up and put the spirit of the living God into our hearts and minds. Decide to take to heart the words of the angels to the shepherds, fear not, for unto you this day is born in the city of David a Savior that is Christ the Lord! Look back on the Christmas you have just gone through and let those words guide you into this New Year.
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Doug Harrell is a life-long resident of Mitchell County, Owner of Harrell Hill Farms, a member of Bear Creek Baptist Church, and former publisher of Blue Ridge Christian News. You can find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/doug.harrell.77
You can read more good Christian News from Doug Harrell HERE
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