It’s the middle of January, and it seems we use this month to evaluate what we want to keep and what we want to let go. We do this in a number of different ways.

We do this with our stuff. We go through our cupboards and closets and find things we no longer use and sell them or give them to charity.

We do this with our health in putting away unhealthy foods and gathering healthy foods to eat or to embrace exercise and shed inactivity.

We do this in our inner lives too by following Paul’s advice to the Ephesians “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (4:31). Paul tells us to put away bitterness, wrath, and anger and to instead hold on to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. The only way to do this is through the renewal of the Holy Spirit in our minds.

Will you allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind? Pray and ask God what he wants you to let go of this year and what to embrace this year.

Faith step: Write the answers to these questions: What is Christ asking you to let go this year? What is Christ asking you to embrace this year? Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind so you can let go and embrace God’s calling for this year.