Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
As we get ready for a new year many people set it their
goal to lose weight and exercise. I came across a list of exercises we would be
better off staying away from in 2013.
1 Jumping on the
bandwagon
2 Wading through
paperwork
3 Running around
in circles
4 Pushing your
luck
5 Spinning your
wheels
6 Adding fuel to
the fire
7 Beating your
head against the wall
8 Climbing the
walls
9 Beating your own
drum
10 Dragging your heels
11 Jumping to conclusions
12 Grasping at straws
13 Fishing for compliments
14 Throwing your weight around
15 Passing the buck
Let me suggest 5 things we can each do to bring us closer
to God in the year 2013
#1 –
Read the Red and Pray for the Power.
Instead of getting involved in another read the Bible
through in a year program how about changing tactics? The reason we read our
Bibles is not to gain knowledge. Knowledge alone is not enough and in all
honesty, even in Christians, knowledge puffs up. 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? I do! 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. You can find a Red Letter Bible
Here.
#2 –
Skip a meal a week and give the money you save to the poor.
We all hear of people making New year’s resolutions to
lose weight or eat healthier. Well how about making that goal something that
actually has spiritual significance. In Isaiah, the prophet talks about a fast
that God has ordained. He tells us to not only go without eating but to give
the food we would have eaten to the poor. How about when you decide to eat
less, you take that money that you save and give it to your local food bank or
a charitable mission’s organization?
#3 –
Let God be in control of your appointment book.
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to win more
people to Jesus. To be more faithful in evangelizing their friends and
families. They may start off good and actually speak up, but as the business of
the year starts, this goal becomes forgotten in the hustle and bustle of
everyday life. Instead of making a goal of evangelizing, how about making the
goal of starting every morning with the simple prayer for God to make you
sensitive to His divine appointments throughout the day? Instead of limiting
your goal to just evangelism that “you make an effort about”, make your goal to
be more sensitive to “Divine appointments that God is making an effort about”?
On your way to work or while taking your morning shower, just ask the Lord to
keep you aware of His appointments for the day
#4 –
Make biblical prosperity your goal.
Many people at New Year’s make resolutions to get a new
job, make more money, buy a house or car, etc. They focus their attention on the
world’s view of prosperity. I would like to challenge you to make biblical
prosperity your goal. Biblical prosperity centers in on the health and
wholeness of your spirit and soul. Make this year a year that you center in on
how healthy you are spiritually and emotionally. 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 beChristian
#5 –
Random words of kindness and mercy.
In the book of James, he writes that good water and
bitter water should not come out of the same well. He is talking about the
words we speak. This year how about making a goal 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. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my
mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, My Rock and
my Redeemer.
What better New Year’s goals can be made than a goal of
doing something that will be pleasing to our God?
Dear Lord as we look forward to the New Year we pray that
it would be in each of our hearts to do things that are pleasing to You. Help
our faith and trust in You grow beyond what we can imagine this new year. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
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