Happy New Year! We flippantly say these three words. And the other cliche, “New Year, New You” which usually refers to a physical aspect of change (losing weight or new outward appearance). Yes, the year is new, but are we? See, the number changed from 2020 to 2021, but will we experience any change from the inside that’s visible from the outside?

Faced with the devastating sickness and deaths of COVID-19, racial unrest, political divides, and many other challenges wreaking havoc in our lives, we should desire something new. But it appears based on recent events, that we as a nation cease to learn anything. So, we enter into 2021 with some of our old disastrous ways.

Jesus says in Luke 5:37-38, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.”

We’ve fed our flesh with the same destructive ways for so long that we live comfortably in our “old wineskins.” We think they suffice, not realizing that bringing our old ways into the new year also brings ruin. No change occurs and we neglect the ultimate goal of being conformed to the image of Christ. To truly receive a new year, we need new natures… spiritual transformations that occur within… new and fresh wineskins for 2021!

Will the nation change? Will the effects of COVID-19 cease? The change this nation and the entire world needs starts with me and you. Yes, vaccinations for COVID-19 rolled out this year to lessen the effects of this deadly disease, but have you vaccinated your heart to prevent the deadly effects of hatred, evil, discrimination, envy, jealousy, unforgiveness, and other forms of sin? This vaccination protects and provides immunity from contagious and unhealthy responses. It produces new thoughts, new actions, a new attitude, a new talk, a new walk… a new wineskin which leads to a new you culminating into a new year.

While confusion exists as to who gets the COVID-19 vaccination, what’s in the vaccine, how to register for it, where to receive it, or how long it takes to get it; no confusion exists around the vaccination for your heart. It’s available to everyone, requires no registration or appointment, given anytime, received anywhere with no waiting and no needles.

The vaccination? Acceptance of God’s free gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold new things have come.” Even those of us in Christ must cultivate and nurture our new nature to continue to grow into His image and prevent from reverting to our old ways and old nature.

After coming out of a year filled with so many eye-opening challenges, I surveyed my life and questioned the things I started to take into this new year. My survey revealed my tendency to stay in my old “wineskin” and it forced me to make changes.

Last year I faced my own personal challenges with my health (shoulder surgery, repair of a significant hole in my heart, and a diagnosis of osteoporosis), marriage, and personal walk. I knew I needed to change in certain areas of my life if I desired to be a “look-a-like” of Jesus. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:22-24 to “…lay aside the old self and put on the new self…” I asked the Lord to change my deficiencies from the inside out.

Vaccinated by the Holy Spirit, I vow to grow and mature by exercising the spiritual gifts in love, walking in integrity as a child of light in this dark world. I expect new thoughts, a new attitude, a new talk, a new walk, new responses to challenging situations—a new wineskin which leads to a new me culminating into truly a new year!

I don’t know about you, but whether or not the nation changes for the better, I desire to be better for Him. I don’t want to just settle for a new year with the same old nature. I yearn to enter this new year with a fresh wineskin knowing that whatever He pours into my life in 2021, I will not be ruined. Why? Simply…

New Year-New Wineskins