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Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 3:13-14
Resolutions for a Happy New Year
Many resolutions come from a list of things that we feel need to be changed or improved. We may have taken a critical look at our lives, and then made a list of what we will do better. That is an understandable way to start resolutions, but it comes from a negative place.
The Apostle Paul urges us to forget the things in the past that hold us back. The memories of sins and mistakes and things that God would not be happy with would not be on this list.
Forget petty jealousies and quarrels. Don’t dwell on them nor let them hold you back. Forget feeling bad about not giving enough, not doing enough, not being enough.
Instead, look for opportunities to do good things this year. God’s great desire is that the love and grace He has poured into us will flow through to others in various ways. And, each one of us is more than enough if we put what we have in God’s hands.
We prove God’s love s love through how we treat others. This can be seen through the way we live: humble, kind, patient, not competitive with others, avoiding gossip.
We can be aware of opportunities to be good stewards, not only in what we give to the church and others, but also in the way we live: conscious of our impact on the environment, not wasteful of resources; conscious of the fact that how we live has an effect on others.
Take a look at the year ahead and where the opportunities may lie. Not that you count on this or that happening, but that if we are where God leads us, then we are just where we should be.
If you are wondering about specifics in this area, read Romans 12. It is a textbook on how God would have us live in this new year, and every year. You will be greatly blessed!
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