Newness in a New Year

New Years’ Resolutions are made each year by people who desire self-improvement and personal growth. The beginning of a new year offers a symbolic fresh start. Here’s a few suggestions if you haven’t made one already.

Like Paul, we can (forget) past mistakes or regrets. Philippians 3:13 says, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

Like David, we can (lift) our eyes up toward God. Psalm 121:1-2. “I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

Like Enoch, we can (walk) with God. Genesis 5:24 reads, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

Like Gideon, we can (advance) with a few resources and little faith. Judges 6:12-14 – “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him, and said Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”

Like Job, we can learn (patience). The term (Patience of Job) illustrates someone who suffers greatly yet never turn his back on God. Job lost his health, wealth, and children. His friends accused him of sinning against God. His wife tried to persuade him to turn from the Lord and give up.

Job 2:9 – “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die.” Then Job replied, “But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall not we receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:10) Having lost all, he sat amidst the rubble of his once prosperous life and sores all over his body, yet Job still proclaimed, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15)

Like Timothy, we can (study) the Word of God. “Study to show thy self-approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)

Most resolutions are made for the physical, but we shall consider the spiritual as well.