NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU...
What is goal of "New Year Resolution"? Is it just to get things done in new season or fill our already busy schedule with sound-good plans? For Christians, the foundation for personal resolution is Life Transformation. The transformation of life is not only the framework personal success and business success but also the fuel that flames our onward progress - developing proper characters and attitudes that are needed to go higher to the next level. Our new year resolution first should be a commitment that is aimed to reforming positive habits. Each new year resolutions we make can help reinforce lifelong changes.
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. Fantastic goals... however, those resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity.
Why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to grow spiritually, or because it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to pray more? So that you can know more of His will, or because last year you missed your prayer? Why do you want to give more? Because you know it is principle for your blessings, or so you can feel better because you give? Why do you want to show more kindness and treat others better? Because you want to serve God by serving others, or you want to be seen by others as good person?
As we we go through the tradition of making decisions for our upcoming year. I would like to encourage you to think outside the box. Instead of the stereotypical Christian New Years resolutions like reading the Bible, I am going to try to stir your thinking and stir your hearts to take on some goals that will build your relationship with Jesus rather than just engage in another religious activity.
Five Resolution Points you should incorporate in your your life in 2013:
1. Read the Red, Pray for the Power
If our intent is to get to know the Savior of our souls better and to grow in a deeper knowledge of the love of Christ towards us, then how about thinking outside the box and this year you make it a goal to read all the words printed in red in a red letter edition Bible? The red letters are the words of Jesus Himself. This can be done easily in 1 month’s time so you can do it 12 times in 1 year. If you read something 12 times do you think you will remember what is said?Along with reading the red, pray that God will enable you by the power of the Holy Spirit to carry out what is written in the red.
2. Sow your seed to be multiplied
How about when you decide to eat and shop less, and use that money as your seed? Give generously in 2013 and see your seed multiplied in many folds.
3. Let God be in control of your daily schedule.
Start every morning with the simple prayer for God to make you sensitive to His divine appointments throughout the day? Begin this year by asking the Lord to keep you aware of His appointments for the day. This not only a lot more workable but will see much more fruit in the long run including leading somebody to complete life transformation through salvation. This will make your life meaningful!
4. Make biblical prosperity your goal.
Instead of getting into more debt where that brings anxiety to your heart, work on getting out of debt. Instead of taking on a second job just so you can have more toys, work on becoming content with what you have so you can spend more time with your children. Instead of taking a job that makes you work nights just so you can get a promotion, how about thinking outside the box and get your promotion at home by being the greatest spouse, parent, neighbor you can be? Make biblical prosperity your New year’s resolution.
5. Random words of kindness and mercy.
This year how about making a resolution that you are going to say random words of kindness and mercy to 1 person every day. That you will bless or compliment someone just because you can. Whether it be your spouse, your child, your neighbor, or the stranger standing in front of you in the grocery store, you are going to find one person every day that you can bless with words of kindness and mercy.
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. Fantastic goals... however, those resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity.
Why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to grow spiritually, or because it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to pray more? So that you can know more of His will, or because last year you missed your prayer? Why do you want to give more? Because you know it is principle for your blessings, or so you can feel better because you give? Why do you want to show more kindness and treat others better? Because you want to serve God by serving others, or you want to be seen by others as good person?
As we we go through the tradition of making decisions for our upcoming year. I would like to encourage you to think outside the box. Instead of the stereotypical Christian New Years resolutions like reading the Bible, I am going to try to stir your thinking and stir your hearts to take on some goals that will build your relationship with Jesus rather than just engage in another religious activity.
Five Resolution Points you should incorporate in your your life in 2013:
1. Read the Red, Pray for the Power
If our intent is to get to know the Savior of our souls better and to grow in a deeper knowledge of the love of Christ towards us, then how about thinking outside the box and this year you make it a goal to read all the words printed in red in a red letter edition Bible? The red letters are the words of Jesus Himself. This can be done easily in 1 month’s time so you can do it 12 times in 1 year. If you read something 12 times do you think you will remember what is said?Along with reading the red, pray that God will enable you by the power of the Holy Spirit to carry out what is written in the red.
2. Sow your seed to be multiplied
How about when you decide to eat and shop less, and use that money as your seed? Give generously in 2013 and see your seed multiplied in many folds.
3. Let God be in control of your daily schedule.
Start every morning with the simple prayer for God to make you sensitive to His divine appointments throughout the day? Begin this year by asking the Lord to keep you aware of His appointments for the day. This not only a lot more workable but will see much more fruit in the long run including leading somebody to complete life transformation through salvation. This will make your life meaningful!
4. Make biblical prosperity your goal.
Instead of getting into more debt where that brings anxiety to your heart, work on getting out of debt. Instead of taking on a second job just so you can have more toys, work on becoming content with what you have so you can spend more time with your children. Instead of taking a job that makes you work nights just so you can get a promotion, how about thinking outside the box and get your promotion at home by being the greatest spouse, parent, neighbor you can be? Make biblical prosperity your New year’s resolution.
5. Random words of kindness and mercy.
This year how about making a resolution that you are going to say random words of kindness and mercy to 1 person every day. That you will bless or compliment someone just because you can. Whether it be your spouse, your child, your neighbor, or the stranger standing in front of you in the grocery store, you are going to find one person every day that you can bless with words of kindness and mercy.