Romans 12:2 NKJV
[2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Did you know that every cell within the human body is new every seven years? Seven years from now we will have completely different bodies than we have now. God is amazing. We are also called to renew our minds along with this and foster our spiritual walk with Christ.

We must reject the spiritual standards of the world around us and embrace Gods standards for us

Isaiah 43:15-19 NKJV
[15] I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.” [16] Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters, [17] Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick): [18] “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. [19] Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

The rivers in the desert come from spending time in God’s presence, in his spirit. Ad we see here in Ezekiel 47:

Ezekiel 47:7-12 NKJV
[7] When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. [8] Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. [9] And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. [10] It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. [11] But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. [12] Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

These are the rivers in the wilderness; the spirit of almighty God! WE are the temple of God so when we spend time in his presence we are filled and we are to be filled to overflowing. This is why Christians can say they have a “river of Life flowing out”. It only comes when we abide in the presence of Almighty God and his spirit leads us!

Isaiah 60:21-22 NKJV
Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation.when the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV
[11] He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

God makes things happen in his timing, not in ours. We can have peace as we dwell in his presence that all things will come to pass in their right time. His peace that surpasses understanding guards our MINDS and our HEARTS in Christ Jesus. We must be abiding in him and following the spirit in faith for us to have this peace.

The joy of the Lord is our strength, and in his presence is fullness of Joy as well! (Psalm 16:11) When we spend time abiding in his presence joy is our strength. We go through things but are not taken down by them because the peace, joy, and life of the Lord are dwelling in us.

Romans 8:3-8 NKJV
[3] For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, [4] that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. [8] So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

We must take this new begining and reevaluate ourselves constantly looking for parts to surrender still to our savior. He has done what the law could not do. He has conquered and made a way for us to be made perfect in him: perfect in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and all fruits of the spirit along with all those who call God out of a pure heart. Let us heed the call of the spirit this year to greater depths than we have before. Let us never stop doing our best to improve before the Lord.

Pst Carey Joy Wanyonyi
For new years 2025