"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
(Isaiah 43:19)
I was quite happy to bid adieu to 2011, and 2012 brought many positive experiences: I was able to travel to several events around the country and see old friends as well as make new ones; I adopted two puppies who have taken over my life; and I lost my job. As strange as that last item may seem in a list of "positive events", it has been an odd blessing for me. I have not felt this relaxed, rested and at peace in years. I have almost zero stress in my life for now, something I would have not anticipated, but gladly welcome.
In two days, we begin another year. What it holds remains to be seen. I posted the rest of this entry a year ago, and said I would post it again if the Mayas were wrong about the end of the world. Well, they were, so here it is.
Obviously,
there is nothing magical about turning the page of the calendar from
December 31 to January 1 that suddenly changes our lives. It's really
just another 24-hour day in a seemingly endless stream of days. But
psychologically, culturally, and even spiritually, there is something
significant about starting a new year that gives us hope for better
tomorrows and cleansing from yesterdays. A new year provides a
delineation between the old and the new, the past and the future. On
this one day of the year, we get to wipe our proverbial slates clean and
start all over. Of course, we get that opportunity every morning when
we wake up. Lamentations 3:23 tells us that God's compassions are "new
every morning", meaning that He gives us a clean tablet of life to write
on every day.
But
the new year is a BIG tablet - more like a giant storyboard, where we
get to set goals for ourselves (call them resolutions if you want). We
plan out a course of action that is designed to make our lives better
and more fulfilling, to make us better people and friends and family
members, and to give our lives a sense of structure and purpose. These
goals/resolutions should go beyond "I'm going to lose weight or stop
smoking or pay off my credit cards". They should have a much deeper
impact on who we are, not just what we do or how we look.
With that in mind, I present Eight Godly Resolutions for the New Year.
This is something I put in my church bulletins every year when I had my
church, and I've also shared them elsewhere over the years. They are
timeless because they are based on scriptural principles. and can be
applied to all of our lives, regardless of our personal circumstances.
They are also something that we never accomplish once and move on - they
require ongoing work to achieve and maintain - so you'll probably see
them here again next January, if Jesus tarries.
Have a safe, blessed and prosperous 2013!
Pastor David
Eight Godly Resolutions for the New Year
1. I
will destroy all roots of bitterness by forgiving those who have hurt
me and accepting forgiveness from others (Ephesians 4:29-32)
2. I will not be satisfied living on yesterday’s spiritual blessings and nourishment (Exodus 16:13-21)
3. I will make sure God is at the top of my priority list (Mark 12:28-31)
4. I will let my closest friends be those that will positively influence my walk with God (Psalm 1:1; Psalm 119:63)
5. I will seek to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:16-18)
6. I will commit myself to serving others (Philippians 2:1- 4)
7. I will ask God for a renewed vision for lost souls (1 Corinthians 9:9-23)
8. I will ask God for new opportunities to witness to others (Colossians 4:2-6; 1 Peter 3:15)
