How important are New Year’s Resolutions?
Have you thought about your new year’s resolutions? I know, you probably don’t think very much of them. I don’t either. After all, resolutions involve change. Since there is so much change going on around us that we have little or no control over why would we initiate any on our own? Perhaps at this stage in our life we say, "just go with the flow." And, we are all aware of those areas in our life that is in need of change. Either we will or we won’t. Why should we set ourselves up for the inevitable failure?
As you contemplate your reflections on those questions, let me share with you four resolutions that I have made for the new year. And, since you probably haven’t made any yourself, these can be yours as well. In fact, here are four resolutions for all of us at Walnut Street Baptist Church.
1) I (We) resolve to criticize and complain less in 2008. It is easy to be critical when we are looking for someone to blame. Instead, maybe we need to look at James 5:9 and I Corinthians 10:10. That should give us cause to pause!
2) I (We) resolve to worry less in 2008. I have never seen a happy person worry. However, I have known many people who aren’t happy unless they have something to worry about. Matthew 6:25 and Philippians 4:6-7 give us good counsel when it comes to worry.
3) I (We) resolve to be more grateful about everything in 2008. With all that we have we should be the most grateful people on earth. It is with contentment that we find gratitude. And in gratitude we find contentment. (I Thessalonians 5:18)
4) I (We ) resolve to be more joyful in 2008. Joy comes from abandonment, from losing yourself in the cause, from plunging in. There is no joy for the timid, the half hearted, the double-minded. Joy goes to the dedicated and the committed! A great insight into the meaning of joy is found in Habakkuk 3:17-19. Ask me and I will joyfully share my understanding of that passage.
We Labor Together with God, 
