Did you make a New Year’s Resolution for 2019?
Change is important, but the reality is that few of us have made immediate and significant life changes because of a single New Year’s resolution.
The Christian life doesn’t rest its hope in big moments of change. Instead, the transforming work of grace is more of a mundane process.
A mundane process that takes small and daily commitment.
You’ve probably heard me say this before: Change typically takes place in ten thousand little moments, not one life-altering event.
The little moments of life are profoundly important precisely because they are the little moments. We live most of our existence in these mundane, everyday moments. For every substantial life-changing moment, we experience ten thousand insignificant moments.
The beautiful thing about the gospel is that Jesus Christ offers grace for each of these little moments. The Bible doesn’t say, “His mercies are new once a year.” No, Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.”
Jesus is named Emmanuel not just because he came to earth once, but because he makes you the place where he dwells every day. This means he is present and active in all the mundane moments of your everyday life.
In these moments, he is delivering every redemptive promise he has made to you. In these moments, he is working to rescue you from you.
By sovereign grace, your Lord will place you in ten thousand little moments that are designed to take you beyond your character, wisdom, and grace so that you’ll seek the help and hope that can only be found in him.
In a lifelong process of change, he is undoing you and rebuilding you again - into his likeness.
Yes, you and I need to be committed to change in 2019, but not in a way that hopes for a big event of transformation. Instead, find joy in - and be committed to - a day-by-day and step-by-step process of mundane change.
May 2019 be a great year for you, in the little moments, by grace alone and in Christ alone!
God bless
Paul Tripp
Reflection Questions
1. What were some of your highlights from 2018?
2. What were some of your low points in 2018?
3. What did God reveal to you about himself and about your heart in the high moments of 2018?
4. What did God reveal to you about himself and about your heart in the low moments of 2018?
5. How can you learn from these moments in 2018, and how can you make little commitments for the New Year?