Are resolutions a good idea?
Rev. Bill D. Oakley - Emporia Church of Christ
Friday, January 18, 2008
Yes! Is there significance in the words “New Year”? Yes, the word “new” is a key word in Christianity. Note: “new covenant” (Heb. 8:13); “new and living way” (Heb. 10:19,20); “new birth” (John 3:5; I Pet. 1:23); “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17) and “new self” (Eph. 4:24).
I welcome the “new” year as a golden opportunity to make new goals, new plans and new resolves which will help me make better use of my time, improve my personal life and increase my service to others. The following are seven special areas of life which should be considered in making new year resolutions:
1. A closer personal walk with God. Be a daily Bible student; pray regularly; spend time in meditation and worship with the church. Ps. 1; Phil. 4:4-8.
2. Personal growth and development in Christian virtues and traits. Gal. 5:19-25; Eph. 4:22-32; 2 Pet. 1:5-11.
3. Good emotional and mental well being. Be positive, optimistic, cheerful, agreeable, thankful, enthusiastic, tolerant and forgiving. Eph. 4:31,32.
4. Better physical health (diet, exercise, proper rest, caution; make and keep doctor appointments; take medications, etc.). I Cor. 6:19,20; Rom. 12:1,2.
5. A stronger relationship with family –- Quantity and quality time. Meet needs and be forgiving. Eph. 5:22ff; 6:1-4; Titus 2:3,4; I Pet. 3:1-8; I Cor. 13:1-8).
6. Fulfill duties and responsibilities --- Be punctual, thorough, dependable, and strive for excellence. Manage you time. Col. 3:23.
7. Enjoy some recreation and relaxation. Time out helps to recreate and refresh your spirit and energize your body. Eccl. 5:18,19.
You should have a personal strategy: (Seven practical suggestions) for 2008.
Have a Plan. Write down your goals and projects (short and long term).
Using a daily and monthly calendar to record appointments and events.
List your daily tasks with a checklist, log or journal. Prioritize and delegate.
Use reminders. Use Post-it notes.
Put your house and life in order. Get organized. Clean out and organize closets, kitchen, garage, shop, storage room, books, bills, tools, etc.
Throw away all unneeded, unusable and unwanted clutter.
Avoid activities and situations that waste precious time.
F “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Bill D. Oakley of Emporia Church of Christ.