Jan
6th
New Years Resolution? Giving up or Taking up?
By Anton Wynn
So
it's a New Year, and it seems at this time of year many
people decide to decide on a New Years resolution. It may be giving
something up (sweets, spending so much time on the console etc.) or
taking something up (exercise, trying to lose weight, being nicer
to people). Some Christians may make New Year’s resolutions to pray
or read the Bible more or make it to church more regularly.
These are all good goals to set. Spiritual New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual ones though, because there's no power in a resolution.
Deciding to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 says , “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be happen, He will give you the power to make it happen. But when we rely upon our own strength, we often find we fail to make the changes we are looking for.
What are your resolutions? Why did you make them? Can you do it alone or should you consider asking for help?
These are all good goals to set. Spiritual New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual ones though, because there's no power in a resolution.
Deciding to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 says , “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be happen, He will give you the power to make it happen. But when we rely upon our own strength, we often find we fail to make the changes we are looking for.
What are your resolutions? Why did you make them? Can you do it alone or should you consider asking for help?
Viewing 1 - 1 of 1
Subscribe
