by Desiree Bustamante

What if we relied on His power at work within us to change us?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:19-21 New Living Translation

Happy New Year! It’s the beginning of 2024, and many see it as a fresh start to change or improve their life. Some people eagerly make resolutions for self-improvement and throw their whole heart into keeping them. Some actively avoid them. Maybe you make one each year, but after a while your perseverance to continue the strenuous work that it takes to achieve the goal fades back to a previous routine.

What if we are looking at this tradition from a flawed perspective? What if we were to focus on a meaningful, life-giving relationship with Christ, instead of only improving our physical selves or relying on our own strength to make a change? Christ knows our needs more than anyone, and He can guide and heal us while transforming us into the person He wants us to become. The direction we need from our Lord is right there in God’s Word, giving us life-changing wisdom that our souls crave.

Turn to His words and focus on a new direction for the next twelve months rather than resolutions that only last a few days. Cling to the hope that God will give you a year of continual growth through His nurturing because He can accomplish even more than within us that we could ever imagine. You will find yourself closer to your Heavenly Father and Savior more than in any year before.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado