Many people believe the New Year means a new start, and it often can mean that. After all, every day brings a new chance to change for the better. We can put off old habits and choose to be better, kinder people.

New starts or change doesn’t happen without work though. We must focus on the choices we make and decide deep within to follow God’s path instead of the intriguing path of the world. This isn’t easy no matter how determined we are.

I’ve been reading through the book of Genesis and thinking about the new beginnings in this book of the Bible and how each person’s choices led them either closer to God or away from God. Let’s look at a few.

Adam and Eve: This couple is the epitome of new beginnings. They were the first people, they walked with God, and had the whole Garden of Eden to themselves. Yet, they chose to disobey God and ended up outside the garden, working the land, and losing their one-on-one time with God.

Noah: Noah believed God when He asked him to build an ark despite there being no rain or water. He endured mocking from those around him. In the end, Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives, were the only humans to board the ark, saved from the flood. Noah’s choice to follow God’s leading, led to a fresh start.

Abraham: Abraham left most of his family and followed God’s leading to the wilderness. He made mistakes, but his heart was for God and God honored him throughout his life. Abraham was the father of Isaac and the grandfather of Jacob. His choice to follow God to the unknown led to the Jewish people, who eventually reached the promised land.

Lot: Lot was Abraham’s nephew and accompanied his uncle as he traveled, following God’s leading. When Abraham and Lot parted ways, Lot’s new beginning was in Sodom and the land surrounding the city. Lot chose to stay in the city peopled by those who didn’t honor God. Despite Abraham’s bargaining with God, Sodom was destroyed and Lot was set adrift with his two daughters. His choices led to a falling away from God.

I could continue to talk about Jacob and Joseph, even Joseph’s brothers, and the new beginnings they each had, but you get the picture. Throughout the Bible and in life, we see people making choices that bring them closer to God and choices that draw them away.

As we start 2025, we must each consider the choices ahead of us. Choosing God is not always the easiest, but it is always the right one. This year, consider focusing on your choices and choose to walk the path God has for you.