Read
Romans 8:15, "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father."
Think
Years ago there was a news story chronicling the life of a powerful leader. It showed him in his office conducting meeting after meeting. You could feel the nervous tension as all these different people met with the leader and tried to impress him with their ideas and achievements. In the middle of the news story, a completely different meeting happened. The door to the leader's office swung open and in ran his child. The atmosphere immediately changed! The nervous tension of previous meetings was instantly replaced with a warm acceptance. It was the same office and same leader as before, but the relationship changed everything about the meeting. When you accept God's love through Jesus Christ, the relationship changes everything. You no longer have to approach Him with fear. Your label has been changed. You are now a son or daughter invited into an intimate and accepting relationship. You no longer have to approach God with fear. You can now approach God with the confidence of a child whom He loves.
Act
Take a moment to think about a new year and your relationship with God. If God is your loving Father, how does that change the way you approach Him? How does that change the way you ask Him for what you need? How does that change the goals you set for this new year?
Pray
Thank You, God, for the opportunity to have a relationship with you. Please change my perspective so that I approach You as a loved child - with confidence and without fear. In Jesus' name, Amen.