Friday, December 28, 2012

RESOLUTIONS



Happy New Year 

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,



No comments:

Post a Comment