Ever thought about those three
words.
Happy =
enjoying well-being and contentment; joyous, pleasant :
New = may apply
to what is freshly made and unused, untouched, unspoiled
Year = 365 days, 8760 Hours,
525,600 minutes.
The new year is filled with time not yet wasted, choices not yet made, and consequences not yet experienced. So the New year is filled with optimism because it is filled with our best intentions and hopes for a better tomorrow.
While the prospect of a new year
excites most people, the sad truth for many becomes apparent all to soon.
That truth is this, that this year will not be happy but dismal, not new, but just like last
year - 365 days of hoping for better
things next year.
Let us remind ourselves as we begin
2013 that happiness is a result of proper behaviour. (my behaviour not someone elses It is a by product of a holy life. If you desire to be happy in this New Year
then you must live a holy life.
That will come will happen by thinking
about two key words, choice and change.
If you want this year to be
different than last year, (better than last year), then you must be willing to make
different (better) choices and be willing to change. The
same habits, the same attitudes, the same choices will lead to the same
things this year as they did last year.
If you are wondering where to
begin, you must begin right here - If you want to bring joy into your life this
year make glorifying and obeying Jesus Christ and serving others the goal of
your life. Make some resolutions that have to do with serving others, getting
involved in other peoples lives.
Here are some examples from the Life
of Jonathan Edwards. These are a handful
of 70 Resolutions he made when he was 19 years old.
Resolution #14: Resolved, never to do anything
out of revenge.
Resolution #15: Resolved, never to suffer the
least motions of anger to irrational beings.
Resolution #69: Resolved, always to do that,
which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.
Resolution #7: Resolved, never to do anything,
which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life
Resolution #17: Resolved, that I will live so as
I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
Resolution #52: I frequently hear persons in old
age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again:
Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done,
supposing I live to old age.
Resolution #50: Resolved, I will act so as I
think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into
the future world.
Edwards’ perspective was shaped by the wisdom of
Jesus, who said in Matthew 16:
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the
whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange
for his soul?”
Edwards at
age 19 has taken the time to consider and then write down the kind of life that
he wants to live.
These resolutions involve choices and they
imply a willingness to change. Do we have the courage
to make such resolutions for the coming year.
Let us take each day the Lord gives
us and use it for Him. He may choose not
to give all of us 365 days, or He may come back before it ends, what ever the case, this will be a
Happy New Year all year long if we put Him first in our lives, forget those
things behind and press on to know Him more each day.
Here are some great reminders from
David as he penned this first Psalm
"Blessed
is the man
who
walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor
stands in the way of sinners,
nor
sits in the seat of scoffers;
but
his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and
on his law he meditates day and night.
He
is like a tree
planted
by streams of water
that
yields its fruit in its season,
and
its leaf does not wither.
In
all that he does, he prospers."
(Psalm 1:1-3 ESV)
MAY YOU HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR,
