Your New Year’s Resolution.  January, 2014

When did I stop?  Can’t really remember when I gave up the practice, just know that I have not really made a New Year’s Resolution for some time.  Guess I believe most resolutions wind up in a scrapheap, without much but frustration left behind. 

On the other hand, the start of a new year is an opportunity . . . to stop . . . to take stock, and think about how we’re doing as individuals.   So as we launch into the waters of 2014, may I ask you, “for whom or for what will you live?”  I mean, really, what will you give your life to, this year?  I am challenged by my beloved apostle Paul’s simplistic life view:  “For to me, living means living for Christ.”¹   Are you ready to re-up?  Decide today that as this New Year begins, you will find out how to live differently … a life that matters … lived for Christ!

Paul said, 'Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ'² … 'Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.' (He wrote that to the Corinthians who were very familiar with the Olympian games, including foot races where the prize was a wreath) 'So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.'³

As I have stated before:  Discipline frees us to become who we were meant to be, and that the very best!

What do you think God would envision for your spiritual growth in 2014?  Purposing to consume a healthy diet, exercise vigorously, and rest well are all parts of physical training.  Strides in your spiritual condition can also be made through training. While it would be great to be able to purchase a  ‘get spiritually mature in 7 days’ kind of plan, I am sorry - it doesn’t work like that.  Your body didn’t mature in seven days, it won’t get ‘fit’ in seven days, and neither will your soul. 

Just how might you go about spiritual training?

>Read and study Scripture, like these Morning Briefings--Get to know your Maker and his plans for you

>Pray - talk to your Father, like you do a friend, and seek his wisdom and direction daily. The psalmist wrote, “Commit your way to the Lord.  Trust in him, and he will do it.⁴

>Do you worship God?  Oh, how he loves that!  (While worship includes meeting together with other like-minded people in a set-apart place to lift up the name of God, it is not limited to that.  You can live your life in a state of worship, doing all that you do the glory of God.)

>Serve God by serving others, and giving of you to them.

Would you like to grow in any of these areas this year? How so? _________________________________________________________

What is your plan to make it happen?_____________________________

Without a vision, the people perish . . . so live your life on purpose.  Let's do some thinking and praying, and then determine how we want to finish this new year of life we have been given.  Go ahead--enVISION yourself crossing the finish line, with your chest pressed out, breaking the tape--!

Let's make it a year of beautiful, lasting growth!

Christine