“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
A clean slate can be defined as a situation in which everything bad or wrong that you have done in the past is forgiven or forgotten, and you can make a new start. This time each year affords us the opportunity to look at a calendar with nothing yet added to it. We are the only ones in the position to make the best decision about our personal and family calendar. Life will come at us and keep us as busy as we will let it.
It is hard to develop healthy relationships within a family when we are always passing in the door and everyone is always exhausted. Use this time to consider seriously the filling in of your family calendar and set the bar so that you are making choices that are best for your family in the long run. Some suggest that you mentally turn the calendar ahead five or 10 years and consider whether those entries will impact the future or merely steal quality time now.
Your choices now afford you the opportunity to make a brand new end when 2020 has run its course. Those nagging thoughts of what we “should” be doing can be put into action before it is too late. Make yourself available to your spouse and your children, freely surrendering your wants for the greater purpose of truly investing in their lives. Lift up prayers to God to help you be the spouse and parent that your family needs you to be. Pray as the psalmist in Psalm 25:1-15 (NLT):
O LORD, I give my life to you.
I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD.
The LORD is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way.
The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey His demands.
For the honor of Your name, O LORD, forgive my many, many sins.
Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose.
They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. The LORD is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them His covenant.
My eyes are always on the LORD, for He rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
Be sure and write in the Lord, His Church, His Word, and prayer on your calendar.
