Change Can Bring Blessing in the New Year: Devotion Ten

Happy New Year! As we anticipate celebrating tonight and honoring a new year with all of its possibilities, I find myself reflecting. A new year is a gift; just like newly fallen snow without a print, we too are offered a fresh chance to start over. New Year's resolutions are about intentional changes we'd like to see in our lives. I hope the following devotion inspires you to think about such changes from a biblical perspective. Changes that God is prodding us to make can usher in new blessing — and I can't think of a better gift for the new year ahead!

Day 10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

In this verse, Jesus reminds us of the true gift of faith: life. God wants us to have abundant life on earth and eternal life with him. So often society equates following biblical principles with denial and a list of rules. The reality is that God wants to gift us with greater blessings through his guidance. Just as we teach our children rules for safety and success, God wants to do the same for us. As we follow the Creator who made all things, we have the secret to a better life. It doesn’t mean that our lives will be perfect or without struggle. It does mean, however, that we have an advantage when we listen and obey. Ultimately, obedience means we aren’t denying ourselves anything other than a life that’s less than our best—and that’s a sacrifice worth making! Is there a change God has been prodding your heart to make? Listen and obey today. See what blessings your obedience brings.

Further Reading: John 1:4; Acts 2:28

I hope you have enjoyed my devotional series this fall! I have shared 10 of the 31 devotions from my e-book. If you'd like to receive all of these illustrated and professionally edited devotions for free, follow the prompts here to have them delivered right to your inbox! And stay tuned for my new series on life purpose coming in January!
Want more inspiration for the New Year? Read this.