Everyone likes new things – be it a new car, a new house, a new job, a new friend or a new hobby, and the list goes on

Just a few weeks ago, the whole world was ushered into a New Year. Many people who may not have spoken to each other the previous year– and may possibly not speak to each other again till another ‘New Year’ – felt obliged to send ‘Happy New Year greetings’, either by texts, phone calls, or emails.

New things come with their own inspirations, and surge of life. Like a gift waiting to be unwrapped, they come with dreams and hopes of what can be achieved.

Every new thing comes with its own potentials or “can bes”. I found out that even God loves new things.

Psalm 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth,
Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Even though we can see that God loves new things, we must understand that God does not give us new things, “just for the fun of it”. Every new thing comes with a purpose, and with guidelines. Just like when we buy a new electronic gadget in the shops, they come with a manual of ‘what for’ and ‘how to’. Failure to study and apply these guidelines would soon result in our “new thing” becoming old, useless and unwanted or under utilized. At which point we either blame the manufacturer or simply go in search of another “new thing”.

If we must get a new result out of a New Year, we must be prepared to consider new ways of doing some old things or perhaps develop a new approach to tackling some challenges we are faced with.

Mat 9:16 -17 No new garments on old parchment; or new wine into old wine skin

There is a difference between “New Things” and “Newness”. “New” represents
current, latest; temporary, not known before; fresh.
As good as these may sound, these definitions “current” and “temporary” cannot be God’s ultimate plan for us. God is not up and down. If He gave us something, He desires the joyful experience of it to be lasting. Hence something must happen to our “New things” to make the whole things God’s ultimate. That is when “New” becomes Newness. Newness is the renewal of the latest. Not simply an experience similar to the last or past, but a qualitative different experience associated with youthfulness, restoration of hope; zeal; dream or commitments. Newness is the inherent power for preservation.

So what do I do to experience Newness in my New Beginnings?
Simple, attach myself to the One source of constant Newness. John 15: 1-10.
On the eve of Jesus departing from his disciples, He knew they were about to be launched into a new beginning. He knew about their weaknesses, fears and imperfections. He introduced the only cure to a life of temporary new things. He could have said, “If you want a fruitful life, clean up your act, perform a religious act, abstain from alcohol, think positive thoughts, carry a big bible, don’t wear make up and so on, but he didn’t say any of these but rather He simply repeated the word ‘Abide’ ten times.

You cannot abide with someone you don’t love. Jesus never asked you to fulfill a set of laws, he asked you to maintain a friendship with him on a permanent basis. When you truly love someone, you seek to please them even when it is not convenient.

Being aware of Christ is not the same thing as abiding in him. You can be aware of your wife or husband and still flirt around. Abiding in Christ can only happen as you fill your thoughts with His thoughts; this is what it means by Christ is in you, the hope of glory.

In the next issue, I will share with you Seven ways you can achieve this…