New Years Resolutions You Can Keep!

[Michael Shanlian Ph.D.]

 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  Only let us hold true to what we have attained".  

Philippians 3:12-16 (ESV)

TOP TEN NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS:

10. GET ORGANIZED.

 9. VOLUNTEER AND HELP OTHERS.

 8. LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

 7. FIND A BETTER JOB.

 6. QUIT SMOKING.

 5. FIND MY SOUL MATE.

 4. ENJOY MORE QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

 3. REDUCE DEBT.

 2. STICK TO A BUDGET.

 1. LOSE WEIGHT AND GET IN SHAPE.

 

RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN KEEP.

10.  GET ORGANIZED (PUT GOD FIRST IN EVERYTHING YOU DO).  1 JOHN 4:19 “WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.”.

 9. VOLUNTEER AND HELP OTHERS. (SERVING OTHERS LEADS TO GREATNESS).  MATTHEW 20:20-28.

 8. LEARN SOMETHING NEW. (A PREPARED MIND IS A PRODUCTIVE MIND).  2 TIMOTHY 2:15. “BE DILIGENT TO PRESENT YOURSELF APPROVED TO GOD, A WORKER WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.”

 7. FIND A BETTER JOB. (DO YOUR BEST IN YOUR PRESENT JOB AND GOD WILL PROMOTE YOU TO A BETTER JOB).  (PARABLE OF THE UNJUST SERVANT). MATTHEW 25:29. “FOR TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, MORE WILL BE GIVEN, AND HE WILL HAVE ABUNDANCE; BUT FROM HIM WHO DOES NOT HAVE, EVEN WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN AWAY.”

6.  QUIT SMOKING. (REPLACE BAD HABITS WITH GOOD ONES).  (UNCLEAN SPIRITS RETURN)  MATTHEW 12:43-45.

5.  FIND MY SOUL MATE. (JESUS STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER).  PROVERBS 18:24. MATTEW 18:19. “THE SON OF MAN CAME EATING AND DRINKING, AND THEY SAY, ‘LOOK, A GLUTTON AND A WINEBIBBER, A FRIEND OF TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS!”

4.  ENJOY MORE QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. (YOUR EARTHY FAMILY TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER YOUR CHURCH FAMILY).  1 TIMOTHY 4:8. “BUT IF ANYONE DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR HIS OWN, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD, HE HAS DENIED THE FAITH AND IS WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER.”

 3. REDUCE DEBT. (THE BORROWER IS A SLAVE TO THE LENDER).  PROVERBS 22:7

 2. STICK TO A BUDJET. (BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE).  HEBREWS 13:5. “LET  YOUR CONDUCT BE WITHOUT COVETEOUSNESS; BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YOU HAVE. FOR HE HIMSELF HAS SAID, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.”  (RICK WARRENS COMMENTS ON AMERICANS LIVING BEYOUND THEIR MEANS).

1. LOSE WEIGHT AND GET IN SHAPE. (TAKE CARE OF GOD’S TEMPLE, YOU ONLY GET ONE)!  1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20.. “OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD, AND YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN? FOR YOU WERE BROUGHT AT A PRICE; THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.”            

 BIG IDEA: BECOMING MORE LIKE JESUS IS A RESOLUTION HE WILL HELP YOU KEEP!