January Devotional

Resolute

All of us at one time or another have made resolutions. January is characteristically the time of year when we try to redefine ourselves. Our local gyms see an increase in memberships, Costco places closet organizer and garage shelving on the display floor and athletic trainers’ client lists increase. Have you set a New Year’s Resolution for 2011?

The great news for us as Christians is that we don’t have to wait 365 days to recreate ourselves. “If any man be in Christ, He is a new creation” and Jesus’ unconditional love is “new every morning”. Once Jesus is our Savior, we simply ask Him to forgive us or show us the way that He would have us go or ask Him about what we need to refine or change. He is faithful to answer our prayers and tell us what we need to change and then He empowers us to make those changes to our spirit, mind or body that flow out into our daily lives.

What goals have we set for this next year? This is a good month to reflect on purpose, plan and production. Our purpose is to "love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind" and "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness". Every decision we make and every moment we live should reflect that purpose. He has a "plan for our life for good and not for calamity to give us a future and a hope". All of our plans should be in alignment with His plan for our life. Our production involves laboring in the fields for the harvest of souls into the Kingdom. How many souls have we ushered into the Throne Room?

As we begin 2011 it is fun to talk with friends about the usual goals of reorganizing our garage or our closets or renewing that gym membership so we can begin or increase our workout times and get into shape with a trainer. In addition, let’s begin in 2011 by praying about and pondering our purpose, God’s plan and Kingdom production. Every one of us is created by God "for His good pleasure" and like Jesus, our Perfect Example, we need to be about our Father’s business. Let us be resolute about it.