All Things New

"I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second."

—Helen Fielding (1958- ) author of Bridget Jones' Diary

Many people look forward to the New Year
for a new start on old habits.—Anonymous

For last year's words belong to last year's language
and next year's words await another voice.
Little Gidding II —T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)

The object of a new year is not
that we should have a new year.
It is that we should have a new soul.
—G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

You must display a new nature because you are a new person,
created in God's likeness—righteous, holy, and true.
—Ephesians 4:24

But now is the time to get rid
of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
Don't lie to each other,
for you have stripped off your old evil nature
and all its wicked deeds.
In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature
that is continually being renewed
as you learn more and more about Christ,
who created this new nature within you.
—Colossians 3:8-10


What this means is that those
who become Christians become new persons.
They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone.
A new life has begun!
All this newness of life is from God,
who brought us back to himself through what Christ did.
And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.
—II Corinthians 5:17-18

And He who sits on the throne said,
"Behold, I am making all things new."
And He said,
"Write, for these words are faithful and true."
—Revelation 21:5

So let us celebrate the festival,
not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil,
but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.
—I Corinthians 5:8