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Ephesians 1:3-10 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ (v.3). When I was 12 years old, my grandfather bought me an enduro motorcycle. I was super excited! This was one of the greatest gifts I had ever received. not only did I want a bike, but I wanted the opportunity to race. The bike was a little bit bigger than what I needed for my size and weight. In other words, I had to not only learn to ride, I had to grow into the bike to be able to enter and compete with it. That was the idea, but things didn't go as planned. I think it is accurate to say that before I ever got good enough to break into racing, the bike broke me and I broke the bike! Several broken bones and a bike that was damaged beyond fixing! What I thought was a great gift ended up being a horrible curse. I ended up missing almost a year of school, which put me behind all my friends by one year. I started to hate that bike. I hated it because I became afraid of it. It took several years before my fear subsided and I started riding again, but my dreams of racing were gone forever. Have you noticed that many earthly gifts we desire end up disappointing us? it's almost as if the anticipation of the gift is more exciting than actually receiving it. There are times we beseech God for a blessing; then when we receive what we asked for, it isn't as grand as we anticipated. in our fallen condition, we long for that which doesn't ultimately fulfill us. We long for lesser treasures. but there is a gift God gives us that satiates our deepest longing and desire. it is a treasure that is incomparable to anything else. What is that treasure? JESUS! Notice that in today's focal verse Paul makes a dynamic claim. he states that the greatest gift God can give us is Jesus --- the greatest spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. The greatest gift God can give us is His Son. jesus was God's perfect gift because He alone was qualified to pay the price for our sin. what greater gift could God give? Nothing! Nothing compares to Jesus, and nothing will bring ultimate forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, and satisfaction other than Jesus.

“The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18

Lord, I pray to you for eyes that see best, for a heart that forgives the worst, for a mind that forgets the bad, and for a soul that never loses faith. Amen

Billions of people, all around the world, commit to New Year’s resolutions each year, yet most sadly give up pretty quickly on their newfound personal promises. The goal is generally some form of transformation, whether it be a new quest for physical fitness, healthy eating or a more organized lifestyle. The best way to start a new beginning, though, and truly transform your life is by turning turn to God and the Bible. New call-to-action As we enter the new year, we can make Christian-focused New Year's resolutions that, with the use of prayer and scripture, we can make sure they stick. Need some ideas for your resolutions? We've got a full list to get you started! What does the Bible say about new beginnings? God’s Word is filled with wonderful advice about how to change your life. In fact, the New Testament is a treasure trove when it comes to Bible verses about new beginnings, with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross saving humanity from sin — and opening the door for personal change. Bible Verses About a New Beginning for the New Year The New Year is a time of reflection, renewal, and setting intentions rooted in faith. These 23 Bible verses about new beginnings offer hope, inspiration, and guidance as you step into a fresh season with God’s promises in mind. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) tells us that accepting Christ allows us to push away our “former way of life” and to push aside our “old self.” This includes the negative attitudes and “deceitful desires” that sometimes creep into the human conscience. Accepting Jesus and embarking on a quest to live like Him helps to transform each individual into a better person. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “‘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.’” This is one of the most powerful Bible verses about new beginnings. This verse reminds us that God’s plans for us are full of hope and promise. As you set New Year goals, trust that His guidance will lead you toward prosperity and peace.