January 1: New Year's Resolutions (1/1/13)

January 1 - New Year's Resolutions

 New Year's Resolutions! What do you think of them? Is making a promise to do something better in 2013 a good thing? Or is it something dreamed up by health clubs and Weight Watchers? Somehow the media like television, newspapers and the internet seem to be in on the conspiracy. I heard one thoughtful soul lament that if it was up to most of us, we would skip this exercise of promising to change. After all the statistics prove that only 8% of people are successful. Seriously! And the rest of us 92% beat ourselves up over our failure. New Year's Resolutions have always made me feel anxious and a bit sad. I was sort of enjoying all the rich food and lazy mornings. January 1st came, and I was depressed. But I always tried. Let's see: losing weight was always my number one. And getting more exercise. How about quitting a bad habit like watching "The Bachelor?" Or quitting smoking? Or doing something like actually reading the book assigned by my book club? Or going to bed by 10:30? News over, lights out! Giving blood seems like a good one, too. I need so much improvement (at least I don't smoke or plan to start again).

Here is a fundamentally unique idea: a psychologist commenting on the high rate of failure suggested the following: Commit to doing less, not more. For instance, if you add an hour of exercise a day, something else will have to go. Maybe it is shopping for dinner fixings and suddenly, you are no longer cooking for your family. Or if you go to school to learn French, you no longer have time to pick up your kids from school. Your stress level goes up as your time has to adjust to doing more things. So, his theory is to stop doing things, like watching less television and spending more time playing scrabble with your kids. Something like that. All of the above is just mildly interesting to me. I have another idea for us.

Let's not be so hard on ourselves. I promise not to ask you what your resolution is, or if you have already fallen off the wagon into the ditch. Here are 5 things I plan to do, but won't publish anywhere but here:

1. Take time each day to read God's Word. I am not setting a time on it. I'm finding my best time, yours might be different. I even downloaded the "Jesus Calling" app onto my iPhone. That way it is with me wherever I am. There are lots of great tools like that.

2. Praying daily. I refuse to be intimidated about other's definitions of prayer time. I pray all over the place and in strange places, with people and alone, reading a touching story and calling out to bless those I read about. A Facebook friend is in trouble and I don't wait to pray until "bed time" or "quiet time." That works for me. If I have time, I like to jot down the prayers in a notebook or on a piece of paper. But anything that works for you is what works for God. I believe that.

3. Make a plan to encourage one person every day. Hebrews 13:1 "Keep on loving each other as brothers." Maybe it is the cashier at the grocery store or the man who walks his dog in front of your house. It could be your own child or husband. Just say something nice and true. It has to be true. Find that one thing that is sincerely encouraging and say it, don't just think it. They cannot read our minds, so I plan to be transparent with my words. Who knows what burdens that person is carrying?

4. Live each day as if Jesus was coming back that day. I don't want to wait to do a good thing. I plan to spend my days wisely and playing with a child is very wise! Children never forget honest attention and neither do adults! I would want Jesus to find me busy doing good and taking care of others (and myself…somedays that means a nap!)

5. Cherish and cultivate family and friends. They are God's special gifts to us. Enjoy them, laugh and love them as much as you can. If they are in our lives, they should be in our hearts, and on our radar of compassion and kindness.

So, if you must, resolve to go to the gym every day. But don't make me feel too badly if I only go on Tuesday and Thursday. And consider the list I made. Just don't let it add to your stress. Take God along in 2013. It will be the best adventure you have ever had. I heard He will even go with us to the gym!

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

Pray: 

Father, help us to be honest in our devotion to You. Let us resolve to make you our number one priority in 2013 and watch all the other worries fade away.

 Amen