Have you noticed that most people get to the end of a year and are dealing with the same things, in some form or another; they have battled with for the last several years? Many of us have lofty dreams and desires but that is as far as it ever seems to get. We excuse ourselves and keep doing what we have always done and then complain and then adjust as to why things are not different with us. Many end us say, “This is just how I am.” Yes, that’s a whole lot easier than changing. Yes, I also know because we don’t get instant results we say changing doesn’t work. Believe you me do I understand that one personally. But if you would like to get to the end of 2011 and find a different person in the mirror I challenge you to do the following things. Plan on changing little things every day for the next twelve months I promise you will see the difference looking back at you.
Plan on living closer to Jesus:
This needs to be our first order of business and we need to purpose to not allow it to wear off in a few weeks. Pray, fast and call on the Lord. Build a life that every day longs and plans on getting closer to God. Our relationship with Jesus needs to take command over every other dream, want and plan in our life. When we don’t seek the kingdom of God first then we cannot expect the rest of life to go well. Live so that God can order your steps daily.
If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; Psalm 37:23-28 NIV
Jesus said, But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV The other things Jesus referred to were the wants and often desires of life, Jesus mentions them in the verses before this one. Don’t allow life or living it to become an idol in your life. Live for God first; give Him the first fruits of your living.
Plan on living smarter:
While reading in the book of Proverbs this morning I noticed over and over the wise man Solomon said to get wisdom and listen to wise counsel. Also to those who didn’t sad days and destruction was a sure thing. The first few verse of chapter one gives the reason for the book.
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:1-7 NIV
The writer lets us know that we need to listen, change and do a better job living in this life. He even says to those who are wise they should add to their wisdom. The day you think you know all the answers is the day you stop growing and making a difference. I challenge you to listen to people whose good decisions have opened good doors for their life, read your Bible and other helpful books (don’t spend so much time on empty novels and fictitious clutter), change your life and the way you do things. Improve you and your daily habits in work, finance and life decisions. Find wise people who will speak into your life on regular bases. If you are tempted to ask why then read Proverbs 1:20-26. Wisdom declares that if we fail to listen and change that wisdom will laugh at us when fear and problems come on us because we didn’t pay attention when we had the chance. Adjust your life and change this year. Live a wiser life.
Plan on living healthy:
Now this is not something we teach and preach much about. It is something I plan to visit in greater fashion in the weeks to come. I know how quick the church is about condemning the terrible habits of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse. We come at it from the scripture standpoint of our bodies are the temple of God. (Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV) Now I do believe that these addictions are not good for you and we are destroying the temple of the Holy Ghost with them in our life and they need to be overcome. But we need to understand we are doing the same with our life habits and eating in today’s world. In one of the books on my recommended reading list for this year the author says several times that we are killing ourselves with our forks and spoons. (Fasting by Jentezen Franklin) If killing ourselves by smoking is sin, isn’t killing ourselves with our fork and spoon the same? I challenge you to work on changing your eating habits and exercising in some fashion this year. I know it’s not something we like to talk about and deal with but I do believe God will ask some tuff questions someday of our life. Don’t wait until the Doctor tells you to change but start today and make a difference. You will feel so much better, you will have energy to do what you want to do and that depressing feeling will be much easier to defeat. Your bodies are His temple so take care of it.
Plan on changing:
I guess almost everyone has moments at the start of a New Year where they desire to change some things is their life. On that note my father use to tell me, “Dreams will come to pass if you don’t over sleep.” If you want to change something in your life this year you will have to plan on it. To make any of the above things happen you will have to work at it. You will have to take steps to make it happen. You will have to discipline your life daily to make it come to pass. Life changes will not happen because someone has a dream. So what are your plans? How do you plan to make it happen? Have you started yet? Lose the excuses. Don’t put it off; procrastination is an enemy to change. Come on you have a clean new sheet, let’s get started. The year will be over before you know it. If you don’t get started you will just be older and more set in your ways in twelve months.
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