See You Next Year...

Anyone want to tell me where 2013 went? So many things have happened...I suppose time flies by when your having fun, right?

 

With the closing of a new year, it is great cause for anyone to reflect on their lives. How they spent their time, where they spent it, and how to better use it. Time is the greatest tool God has given us. It's one of the few things we simply cannot get more of. I've felt that more and more as my mission has gone on. I am almost at my sixth month mission birthday, and sometimes it feels like I stepped off that airplane yesterday. What do we need to do to better use this God-given gift of time?
 

Ever heard of a New Year's resolution? It's that thing we make once a year, often as a very general goal, that is a struggle to get done. We think about how we want to better during the last few days of December, and then wake up on January 1st, and it becomes just another day. Now, I know that may not be the case of some of you, but for the most part, that's how it happens for me and many others!

 

Because of the Plan of Salvation that I explained a few posts ago, we have this process called repentance. Repentance means to change. It is the means by which we change our nature to be more like the Savior's. Some may think that repentance, or change, is scary or difficult. Repentance is another most beautiful gift that we have been given. Because of the mercy of our Heavenly Father, when we make the effort to change, we can be forgiven of our sins and mistakes, and never have to return to them. The guilt and shame we feel when we make mistakes can be taken away as we use the Atonement of Jesus Christ to repent and work on becoming who Heavenly Father knows that we can be. We can have the peace we seek in our lives as we include God and Jesus Christ in our journey to change.

 

Our New Year's resolution's are an opportunity to truly become different. The changes that we so desire to make don't have to fade as January 1st rapidly speeds to December 31st. We can become who we have always wanted to be! That can only happen in and through our Savior, Jesus Christ, and his atoning sacrifice. It can only happen as we repent and turn to God to give us support for the changes we want to make.

 

 

My challenge to you for the new year is to make a specific goal. I have never been good at making goals, but I have noticed that as I make very specific goals, I see very specific results in the areas that I wanted to. Make a goal to return to God. I've even found for you a lovely picture with lots of ideas that you can pull from! How helpful, right? =)

 

You CAN change. The atonement and repentance erases the word "can't" from everything. As you rely on and return to the Lord to help you, you can do all things. You can be the person you've always wanted to be through our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ!