Philippians 4:13 – I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (NIV)

Peace and quiet reigned. The colourful Christmas lights framing the black of night through the windows reflected back upon themselves giving a 3D effect. It was then that I noticed that there were a few gaps in the lights. Some of the bulbs were not working. I checked them but discovered that they were not replaceable. Oh well, I thought, for the most part, no one would notice. But I did.

This small incident got me thinking about my Christian life and how it is a lot like that string of Christmas lights. Like them, I was connected to a power source. In my case, the power of Christ flowed through me. My life, for the most part, was glowing day-by-day for Him through various works, words, and attitudes. But I also knew that there were still gaps in my string of lights. Areas dark or flickering, areas of attitude that needed renewal through the mind of Christ in order for them to be changed, to be replaced by the light of His life. Perhaps others did not notice, but I did, and I knew that God did, too.

But thankfully for me and for you, the lights in the string of our life are replaceable. Our thoughts, words, deeds, and attitudes can all be changed, for as the apostle Peter has stated:

2 Peter 1:3-4 – His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (NIV)

As the new year approaches, we thus have hope. We have hope in the divine power that Christ has given us. We have hope that the gaps in the string of our life lights will be brighter in this new year ahead than they have been in the past, as we continue to place our faith in His very great and precious promises that ensure that we can do all things that He calls us to do, through Him who gives us strength.

Prayer: Father God, what a great and marvellous Lord You are, Who is willing to allow us to share in Your divine power that we might live lives of godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. May the song that our heart sings this new year be: "Shine, Jesus, shine" through the string of our life, shedding light throughout the world. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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