New Year Resolutions

It is another Year and each of us usually makes New Year Resolutions. We tell ourselves that we will cut back on sweets or get into shape or stop some annoying behavior. We begin each year with these same promises to ourselves and sometimes even make them with others. I would caution you about this as our Father in heaven takes those 'promises' as Vows. If you make a resolution that you know that you cannot keep then perhaps you need to start with a lower expectation. In business that is goal setting. You set a goal that is attainable and work toward it. Then you move on to the next step. With each goal achieved, you will move toward attainment of your primary target and success. On the other hand, most people fail because they set unattainable goals for themselves at the beginning and then give up in frustration before they even have a chance to succeed. Where am I going with this? Truthfully, I was not planning to address this at all, but felt the need to communicate a short message of hope and help. First, as you are deciding what areas to address in this new year that our Lord has given you, pray for His direction with fasting and meditation on what areas in your life you need to improve your service. Then sit quietly and listen for the Spirit to guide your thoughts and help you plan out how best to achieve the goals that our Father has placed upon your heart to improve. In this way, you will be able to meet success in what you do for it will not be your strength that gets you to your goal but our Father's. He will not place more upon you than you are capable of achieving, and you will find that He will actually start stretching you beyond what you THINK you are capable of achieving. You should also keep a journal of your initial goal setting and the course that you set to attain success. Then as the year progresses and you move along your pathway, and frustrations set in along with temptations to quit you can refer back to the journal to see how God has moved you along toward your goal and has been faithful toward you giving you courage and strength to continue toward success. Above all else, remember this; God will never fail us nor abandon us, we fail and quit Him. This year perhaps our FIRST resolution should be to NEVER abandon Him for all of this year. What a year each of us would have if we would hold to that resolution.