"Here is my annual post for the New Year, with some slight modifications to make it more timely." - Mark
New Year's resolutions have become a part of my life and a regular year-end activity with several people that I know. And the breaking of these resolutions have become a tradition with all of us. It is always nice to think that with the next year we are going to lose that 20 or more pounds that we need to lose, that we are going to save money, or that we are going to just change our attitudes. Unfortunately, the flesh is weak and before we know it, we are right back to where we were.
This year, I have decided to take a biblical approach to this, and with God's help I believe that we can be what God would have us to be. For the next year I resolve to:
1. Not be judgmental of others: "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way" - Romans 14:13
2. Pray for those that persecute me or cause me trouble: "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you." - Luke 6:27
3. Tithe so that I can bless others, and so that God can bless me: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,"Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." - Malachi 3:10
4. Not become consumed with money and possessions: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Luke 12:34
5. Give and be generous to those in need: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:38
6. Read my Bible: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17
7. Take better care of my body: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
8. Share the love of God with those around me that need to hear: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." - Romans 1:16
9. Spend time with God in prayer on a daily basis: "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;" - Collosians 4:2
10. Endure the trials that come upon me knowing that God is enriching my life: "For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;" - Hebrews 6:7
In closing let me just say that my primary goal for 2007 is draw closer to God. I have learned that there is no better place to be. When I am with Him, all of my problems just fade away. When things start to get bad, our faith slips, and our resolutions to be better Christians start to fade away, we have to remember that God is preparing us for our place in his Kingdom. 1 Kings 6:7 says,
And as we rapidly approach the rapture, I can't wait!
Have a BLESSED NEW YEAR!
New Year's resolutions have become a part of my life and a regular year-end activity with several people that I know. And the breaking of these resolutions have become a tradition with all of us. It is always nice to think that with the next year we are going to lose that 20 or more pounds that we need to lose, that we are going to save money, or that we are going to just change our attitudes. Unfortunately, the flesh is weak and before we know it, we are right back to where we were.
This year, I have decided to take a biblical approach to this, and with God's help I believe that we can be what God would have us to be. For the next year I resolve to:
1. Not be judgmental of others: "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way" - Romans 14:13
2. Pray for those that persecute me or cause me trouble: "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you." - Luke 6:27
3. Tithe so that I can bless others, and so that God can bless me: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,"Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." - Malachi 3:10
4. Not become consumed with money and possessions: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Luke 12:34
5. Give and be generous to those in need: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:38
6. Read my Bible: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17
7. Take better care of my body: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
8. Share the love of God with those around me that need to hear: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." - Romans 1:16
9. Spend time with God in prayer on a daily basis: "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;" - Collosians 4:2
10. Endure the trials that come upon me knowing that God is enriching my life: "For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;" - Hebrews 6:7
In closing let me just say that my primary goal for 2007 is draw closer to God. I have learned that there is no better place to be. When I am with Him, all of my problems just fade away. When things start to get bad, our faith slips, and our resolutions to be better Christians start to fade away, we have to remember that God is preparing us for our place in his Kingdom. 1 Kings 6:7 says,
"In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site...".Through our sufferings, we are honed and shaped to better serve Him when we get home.
And as we rapidly approach the rapture, I can't wait!
Have a BLESSED NEW YEAR!
