What sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make?
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What sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Why are spiritual qualities so rarely a part of New Year's resolutions?
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- What sort of New Year�s resolution should a Christian make? The practice of making
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- New Year�s resolutions goes back over 3 ,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning.
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- In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st.
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- The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year�s resolutions. However, if a
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- Christian determines to make a New Year�s resolution, what kind of resolutions should he or she make? Common New Year�s resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, or to spend time with family.
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- By far, the most common New Year�s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily.
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- These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4 .8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective.
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- For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
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- The vast majority of New Year�s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things.
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- This should not be. Many Christians make New Year�s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly.
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- These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year�s resolutions fail just as often as the non -spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a
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- New Year�s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity.
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- For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually?
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- Or is it because you have just heard that it�s a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor
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- God with your body? Or is it for vanity, to honor yourself? Philippians 4 .13
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- tells us, �I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.� John 15 .5 declares, �I am the vine, you are the branches.
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- If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.�
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- If God is the center of your New Year�s resolution, it has a chance for success, depending on your commitment to it.
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- If it is God�s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not
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- God honoring and or is not in agreement with God�s word, we will not receive God�s help in fulfilling that resolution.
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- So, what sort of New Year�s resolutions should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions. Pray to the
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- Lord for wisdom in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you to make. Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals
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- God gives you. Rely on God�s strength to help you. 4. Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you.
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- 5. Don�t become discouraged with occasional failures. Instead, allow them to motivate you further.
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- 6. Don�t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37, 5 -6 says, �Commit your way to the
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- Lord. Trust in Him and He will do this. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.�