Picture yourself blowing out the candles on your birthday cake and making that one wish, or grabbing the biggest end of the wishbone, or perhaps you just came up with New Year's resolutions that this year you have promised yourself you are going to keep.
A lot of us realise a few months in to the New Year that those wishes we had made at the start of the year are now slowly being broken and things have begun to shift. The to-do-lists, the work/university hours and the rhythm of the every-day have kept going and we wish we could have a hold on everything.
Here's a fun fact!
Did you know that on average we are exposed to 3,500 marketing messages per day? Through social media it has become even easier and more immediate for us to be aware of these things. The Apple products used in television shows, the billboard posters and of course the many healthy eating tips that we hear daily. All advertisements are telling us that we will be happier or that life will become easier once we buy their product. Of course with these things subconsciously going in it has become easier to focus and have our attention on earthly satisfaction. After all it is something that we can physically see and comprehend.
In order to make change happen in our lives; we might read self-help books, chat to our friends, maybe even use medication. These things aren't necessarily bad; after all we just want to make sense of our circumstance, our hearts and the world.
We often find ourselves daydreaming about what we wish we could have, seeing our lives through a blurry lens of uncertainty. Or maybe we have forgotten to take the lens cap off resulting in us only being able see the darkness that is hindering the light.
Instead we need to change our perspective, take the cap off and focus on what we do have.
However as we take our focus off these things and live life as Colossians 3:1-2 says and '...set our minds on things above and not on earthly things', it will be easier for our gaze to be on Jesus and for our walk to go deeper with Him. Just imagine if we spent less time watching the television and more time with Jesus, our focus would naturally be more attentive to what He is saying.
As this New Year begins, look around at everything God makes new every day. From the sun rising to the sun setting, God is constantly doing a new work in our lives. Revelation 21: 4 reads "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." As we try to make consistent effort to make things change around us and in our lives, God has already called us to a life of freedom from pain and suffering. Matthew 6:10 demonstrates exactly this. It reads, "... your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
If God wants us to live on earth like we would in heaven, then as Revelation says God has already taken away the pain of the hardships we feel on earth. There isn't a reason why we need to take this mindset on. As we begin to look at life from this perspective we will see that there is beauty in who He says He is, the things He has given us and the place where we are.
So what are you going to do with your wish?
Let me leave you with a thought. As any of us journey through 2015 and trials arise (and they will), are you/I going to try and fix your/my heart, life and surroundings using those three magic wishes? Or are you/I going to hold on to that freedom mindset that Jesus wants us to have while walking with Him on Earth. Let your/my New Year's resolution be one that aligns your heart with His.
Rebecca Bowie is a young Christian who is intentionally seeking after Gods heart and striving to love people with everything. Now living in Brisbane Australia, was formerly living in London, England. She's a full-time volunteer at Youth with a Mission.
All scripture is taken from the NIV translation, unless stated otherwise.
Rebecca Bowie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/becki-bowie.html