Do you enjoy making New Year’s resolutions?
Are you an assertive goal creator, a believer in accountability or do you have resolution-avoidance
anxiety?
It is difficult for me to believe it was an
entire year ago when I put these goals and
time frames on my bulletin board:
1.)
Work: 2 days a week
2.) Worship
& rest/recreation: 1 or 2 days a
week
3.)
Write: 3 days a week
4.)
Workout/exercise/walk: 4 days a week
5.)
Read/study God’s Word: 2 days a week
In keeping with an honesty-is-best policy, I
need to admit that #1 was the only goal kept consistently. Even my attempt at simplifying and
alliterating the list did not inspire success.
To motivate goal-writing and following, I
need to be persuaded and even excited about the advantages. Since I am convinced that spiritual health
affects all facets of a person’s life, my latest resolutions intermingle #2, #
4 and #5 above.
Just like an exercise regimen is used to
improve physical health, there are recommended “work-outs” to help strengthen souls. Do you
have an interest in firming faith-muscles? Perhaps we can be accountability partners for these
health program suggestions:
++1. WARM
UP with prayer, asking for God’s guidance in pursuit of spiritual wellness.
Prayer can be simple communication from weak individuals to the all-powerful,
always available heavenly Father. Good communication
between people benefits relationships; talking to God in prayer and listening
to his Word draws us closer to him.
Colossians
4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful.
++2. STRETCH
AND TONE spiritual muscle by memorizing Bible verses. Even Jesus learned,
memorized and used Scripture to fight the temptation to sin. The devil hates it when we do that too!
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread
alone, but on every word that
comes from the mouth of God.’”
++3. CARDIO
WORKOUT: Faith-filled hearts receive
essential protein from the “solid food” parts of the Bible. Reviewing Old Testament laws and regulations,
learning the reasons for them, what they foreshadowed, and being reminded of
the just demands of our holy God, pumps Holy Spirit power through our sin-clogged
veins.
Isaiah 5:16 But
the Lord Almighty
will be exalted by his justice,
and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.
Leviticus
11:45 I am the Lord, who
brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy,
because I am holy.
Hebrews 5:13-14 Anyone who lives on milk, being
still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about
righteousness. But
solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to
distinguish good from evil.
++4. LIFT
WEIGHTS of personal application by admitting sins, repenting, and applying
Biblical standards to thoughts, words and actions. We can ask Jesus to be our personal
trainer through these honest, painful, faith-muscle building exercises. No
worries that guilt will be too oppressive to bear. Our Savior already carried the
required, heaviest weight for us, on the cross.
Mark 1:15 The time has come,” he
said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
2 Corinthians
7:10 Godly
sorrow brings repentance
that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Galatians 5:24-26 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in
step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and
envying each other.
++5. COOL DOWN after the above soul stretchers
by breathing in blessings (to the count of a long list) and breathing out a
long, deep thanks to the Giver. Ask him
to instill awareness of and enjoyment in the gift of every redeemed moment. Relax in
the trustworthy promise of eternal perfect health in heaven, because of Gospel
grace.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from
the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1
Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in
all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians
5:1 For we
know that if the earthly tent
we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in
heaven, not built by human hands.
++6. NUTRITION Most people don’t need a reminder to eat/drink something at least three times a day, every day of the year. How about giving our soul the consistent nourishment
it craves? In God’s gym, the Church, we share
food and encourage with other believers, and are fed by His Word and covenant
sacrament.
1 Peter 2:2 Like
newborn babies, crave pure
spiritual milk, so that by
it you may grow up in your salvation.
2 Timothy 3: 14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned
and have become convinced of.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love
and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing
near.
Jesus’ Resolution
Luke 9:51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven (i.e.
facing torture, crucifixion, separation from his Father, death, then
resurrection and ascension), Jesus resolutely set out for
Jerusalem.
Jesus accomplished his goal of being the
spotless sacrificial “lamb of God” (John 1:29) . His resurrection secured his and our victory
over death and Satan. The Savior continues
to pray for his redeemed until we meet face to face.
Can there be any better
resolution-making motivation?
Hi Susan! I enjoyed and benefited from your post! Excellent scriptures and I appreciate your honesty. I too had started to pray and read the Word in the morning to start my day with Him. Mostly I've been successful and I remember the wonderful lesson you taught at Pens of Praise about goal setting! Thank you for all that you share!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!! God's word is a very important part of our lives that we should make time for everyday. I liked the way that was presented in this blog. :)
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