During late December or early January, it seems a topic of conversation is making New Year’s resolutions. It is the time when people are supposed to set goals or objectives for the new year. That is good. Successful people, successful businesses, even, dare I say it, successful churches do it.

I often wonder if God sets His objectives for the new year, such as add 5,000,000 Christians in 2018? I think not. Is it possible that God established His goals in the very beginning? Do they change, or are they everlasting? But that’s another topic. On with the blog.

So, what about us? How should we look at setting resolutions for 2018? I could be wrong here, but resolutions are like personal promises to oneself to stop doing, or start doing or continue doing specific things, such as: walk a mile a day, quit smoking, tell my wife I love her every day.

One of my resolutions is to walk a mile each day. Since January was approaching, I waited until New Years Day to start. How often do we postpone doing the right thing, the good thing, perhaps because we really don’t want to do it anyway? For example, today it is raining so I won’t walk. Shame on me. I tell myself I’ll walk twice as far tomorrow. Believe that, and I have a bridge I’ll sell you.

We must be strong-willed, dedicated, and fully committed to taking a course of action. But sometimes, no, most of the time for me, I tend to yield to my weak side. Am I all alone here?

Paul expressed it succinctly in Romans 7:15, “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right (follow my resolutions), but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to do – what I hate.” (mine). I sure you know that feeling. Do you?

If we know to do something is wrong, Resolve to stop it right away, be it January February, June or July. Nothing is magic about starting a resolution on January 1st. Isn’t every day a new ” day the Lord has made? We should rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) It is not just a new day, but it can be, for you, the beginning of a new year. It is A time to change direction in our lives, to make those decisions to act, or not act or continue acting a certain way. Nor does it have the stigma of a New Year Resolution that is so often broken.

So often overlooked is asking Christ for help. Resolutions are much easier to keep when we ask Jesus to help us to maintain our course of action. Why not accept this resolution and start today!

“I resolve to make abundant room for Jesus in my life.”

Why not also resolve today to make a regular donation to VBS Disciples? Planning for 2018 is underway, and funds are needed to purchase T-shirts and other supplies for the children. These are resolutions you’ll sure want to keep.

Next week: To Feed or Not to Feed