Hi everyone! It is the 5th of the year today and I hope everyone is enjoying the start to the new year!
Resolutions - this seems to be the topic on everyone's mind. Constantly, we're trying to figure out what our goals are for the new year, how to keep them, and the benefits we will achieve when we meet those goals. These are great. Goals are what we are meant to be setting and accomplishing. If we don't set goals, we lack motivation, and we remain stagnant (not very good).
It's wonderful to make resolutions, and I have made some myself. My one health resolution that I've made this year is to drink more water. I do enjoy drinking soda - in fact, root beer is my absolute favorite! And root beer, for the most part is a really good soda to drink (no caffeine, light on the sugar, low in calories). However, I like to drink soda more than I should. I will often have two a day (which, I know, is nothing compared to what some people drink...). As I reflected over the week leading up to the new year, however, I was reminded that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and I need to take better care of it. So - soda, is being limited. I'm not totally giving it up though. I have a system - for every 1 12 oz. soda I drink, I must first drink 100 oz. of water to make sure I'm hydrating myself. Soda is not good at hydrating or cleansing the body - water is. So, this has been my goal. I've done wonderful some days (today has been exceptional!) and I haven't had a soda on others. That is going to be my resolution, and I want to keep it. I, who have no children, want to make sure that is not what my kids think of me. I want them to see that I am healthy and treating my body accordingly. I know of so many people who's children can say things like, "That's mommy's pop!" I, myself, can remember one specific thing about my dad concerning soda - he loves Coca-Cola(R)! He always drinks it - and he's not always healthy.
As a Christian, I need to take a different look at things. I need to be devoted to God and serving Him. This includes how I take care about my body.
But body issues is not what I wanted to address in this post. I wanted to share another resolution: to know God more.
Do you desire to know God more? If not, why not? If yes, how are you doing at it?
God longs for us to draw near to Him, to love Him, and obey His commands with love and passion. He longs for us to be sold out to His plans, and be active in seeing them accomplished. Is this what you want?
Truth be told, there are times where my agenda conflicts with God's and I don't want to know Him more or follow Him. I don't like this, and I falter in my devotion to Him. I don't want to live like this anymore. I want to be steadfast in my devotion always for God's plans. He is worthy.
2011 is going to be a big year for me. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am getting married and I just bought my first home. As I look forward to leading a family, I think to my agenda. Is it aligned with God's? Is it flexible, if He should choose to change it? Is He going to be the real leader of my family? Will I let Him?
These and other questions are ones I continually contemplate. I want to be sure that my family is recklessly abandoned to God's will, but I know I'm a broken man prone to sin. I know this about me. Thanks be to Jesus Christ my Savior.
I know my hope is found in my surrender to Jesus. I know I will find the answers and the ways as I commune with Him. And I want to be devoted to Him. I want us to see Jesus as enough and the only One worthy. He is the one I worship and I want us to worship. This is a call for me to step up my game. This is a call for me to be more devoted, to be continuous in prayer, to be set on His standards and to not compromise. And that is not tough. But I believe Jesus is worth it. I really want you to see and believe that too. He does "ruin our lives" completely for our good. And I believe there is reward for sticking to Him. He is pulling us closer as we turn to Him. And as we do this, we live out eternal life here and now (see John 17:3).
So, as I have done in previous years, and continue to do again, I have chosen a verse that represents how I want to emulate my life to Christ. The verse I've chosen really reflects the man I want to be. I have chosen 2 Timothy 2:15 as my theme verse this year. This is what I want to be following, and to be my truth. It says:
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Be blessed in 2011 all of you! I hope it is a wonderful year filled with joy, hope, and increasing love for Jesus Christ. I love you all more than you know.
Brandon
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