Preparing for the New Year

As I determined to clean out my desk, I found an article that I had written for the Keith County News that appeared on January 4th 2006. As I was re-reading what I had written, I thought that even today this insight might be helpful especially as we work on the new year. So I decided to write what I said and one can make the changes to 2008 rather than 2007.

"As I watched the ball descend in New Year in 2006, Dick Clark made a statement about New Year's resolutions. More than a decade ago, the number one resolution was to quit smoking. During the years, people have come to realize the dangers of smoking on one's health and many have quit.
Today, the number one resolution is to lose weight. We are beginning to understand the dangers of being over-weight and how that affects our health. Some people may not only make that their resolution but look at other areas of their lives that they feel need improvement; which could include exercise, spending more time with family, and could even include ways of improving one's mind.
Though, if any of the people are like me, I can make determined resolutions and within a month lose sight of them. The problem, at least for me, is that I need the help of others for me to follow through with these types of commitments. To try to lose weight alone or to exercise alone is difficult to do consistently. It is far better to do so with members of a group who support one another in their efforts, much like ministry.
All these resolutions are wonderful, but do not include any spiritual resolutions. As a pastor, I have seen wonderful choices in ways of living a better life. Yet, if one does not include some spiritual growth in the process, I have also seen many who fail to either institute the changes in their lives on a permanent basis or that changing their physical and psychological makeup does not seem to change their lives.
Jesus understood the difficulty in changing one's life. He did state that the body is the new temple of the Lord. Yet, his concern was less about what one would do to lose weight and change one's attitude if one did not turn to God in the same process. He began his ministry after the temptation story in the desert by saying, "turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17 NLT).
He began to instruct us on how we are to become spiritually prepared for the kingdom. In Matthew, chapters 5-7, he instructs his disciples and ourselves in what it means to make those spiritual resolutions. This beginning of a New Year would be a wonderful time to again read these chapters and look at what resolutions we might want to make for the coming year.
These wonderful teachings express not only making God our priority but on how to live the teachings in this world. these include teachings on love of one's enemies, on not judging especially who is in or out, giving to the needy, about money and a more proper perspective, and caring for others.
Jesus knows that to do what he asked required major changes in one's choices, one's attitudes, and one's physical body. He never said that we are to do this alone. Rather, he gathered people together so that they could support one another.
This New Year, gather those around you who can support your resolutions whether to lose weight, exercise, or even in growing spiritually. Join a bible study. Go to church services on a regular basis. Participate on a mission team to help others and to spread the gospel.
Truly, if we are able to do these resolutions then we can begin to see a change in the year 2006 and live our lives in the way Jesus has taught."
I would hope that the same could be said for 2008. As we make plans and resolutions for this coming new year, take time to read Matthew and to reflect on how we can live a more fruitful life. A life that God wants us to live.