New

This week is when the Gregorian Calendar, the roots of which is the Roman Julian calendar, begins a "new year." Most people don't care that this is what is followed in the world today. In fact, most people probably do not know that there was another calendar at all.

Yes, the Bible actually has a different calendar. The one God established as He gave Torah (teachings) to the Israelites. They followed His guidance and that has a completely different rhythm than the rest of the world.

The Jewish "New Year" is in September - Rosh Hashanah. The blowing of the shofar, the day they believe creation began, the day they believe Torah was given and a host of other events. It is a time of new beginnings and starting over.

The Jewish calendar also has a Spiritual new year. This happens at Passover. A time when one reflects on why they are Jewish and making a choice to remember how God brought them out of Egypt. Christians remember the choice they made to follow a God who sent His Son to die for their sins. It is their reminder to remember what He did so they can have LIFE.

For those who follow Christ, these days should hold as much, if not more, significance than "New Years" day. I read something the other day that talked about how we set goals, begin working out, make new financial decisions and the list goes on... New Years resolutions we call them. By February most have already "given up," or can't make them happen. The excitement of something new has dwindled and we go back to our old habits.

I wonder if it is because we are not grounded in what the Bible gives as a roadmap for 'new beginnings." I'm not saying it is wrong or evil to celebrate New Years (yes, some people would say it is). We have to start somewhere. We have an innate desire to start fresh often. It is nice to reflect and make new goals. My pondering makes me question if we begin to feel empty because we have not grounded those decisions in Him. It's based on a world view that really isn't connected to the Bible.

I follow a gentleman on Instagram called "AussieDave." His teachings lean into a Hebrew word and He challenges his readers based on that word. Today's word was "ruach." It means breath. The definition he gave is, "breath and Spirit and life itself." Dave's thought was that everything in the beginning had structure, but no life. Each system was perfectly formed, but until God breathed His LIFE into the system, nothing moved.

This transformed my mind this morning. Without the breath of God, who created me in His image, any goal, routine, or system will die. Without the presence of God - the system will perish. To be honest, this can happen even in the Hebrew calendar that God created. If that system becomes religious and more focused on the laws and rules (legalism and religion) then on the relationship God wants to have with us, the system He established will fade.

NEW should always include the ONE who created you. It is not about rules and regulations or guidelines, it is about a relationship that breathes LIFE into everything you are a part of.

As the year 2025 in the Gregorian calendar comes to a close, stop and reflect on what you need HIM to breathe HIS LIFE into for the new year. What areas need to be filled with HIS Presence? Let His "Ruach" bring the winds of change you need to become more firmly established in your relationship with Him.

The "Ruach HaKodesh" is the Holy Spirit. It literally means, "the holy wind or breath." It refers to God's divine presence, wisdom, and active force, often described as the "Spirit of God"

That, my friends, is how we should start the new year... filled with the active force of God Himself. Pour out praise to Him because He is IN YOU. His Love will then flow to those around you.

Love and blessings,

Rose