Our New Year's "Restitution"

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
~ Jeremiah 29:11

This morning a friend shared that she was going to be moving five hours away to, "start over," after suffering a significant loss over the past year.  While I haven't been as close to her in the recent past as I once was, it is still about change.  As I affirmed her decision to move, I was reminded of the words from Jeremiah, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

With the new year starting this week, I know that there are many of us who will be reflecting and evaluating our lives, coming up with the notorious "New Year's Resolutions."  

I am reminded years ago that one of my children instead inserted the word, "New Year's Restitution," and it has stuck ever since.  

For most of us, change is something that we encounter, sometimes with grace.  Other times with, "Wait a minute!"   While we dwell on the fateful list that others are expecting from us as we gather to celebrate the end of a decade, I am reminded that any list that we embark upon must begin with asking for God's guidance, and for the way to be filled with many moments of grace.

Every new resolution needs to include the "should have," clause.  That we don't find in three months saying, "I should have done this instead."

If there is one thing that I hope that we all will remember it is this, "The will of God will never lead to where God's grace will not sustain us."  

Be kind to yourself as you think about what you would like to change in your life.  Is it a reasonable goal, and will it help your own personal growth?

In all of these things, may each of us remain in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2019