I, Hereby, Resolve…

It’s time for New Year’s 2019 resolutions. Here is the Top Ten for 2018:

1. Lose Weight
2. Getting Organized
3. Spend Less, Save More
4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest
5. Staying Fit and Healthy
6. Learn Something Exciting
7. Quit Smoking
8. Help Others in Their Dreams
9. Fall in Love
10. Spend More Time with Family

45% of Americans make resolutions. 38% never make resolutions. Only 8% of those who make them actually achieve their goal. 39% of those in their twenties achieve their goals while only 14% of those over fifty are successful.

People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions. In other words, those who go public with their resolutions and give specific details as to what they want to accomplish are way more successful than those who just think about it. The motivation to keep on keeping on is greatly enhanced by commitment and accountability.

With that said, I’m going public with my resolution for 2019. In a word, it’s PERSPECTIVE. My goal is to become more aware of Christ’s Presence in me and around me 24/7. Every minute of every hour of every day.

The Apostle Paul said, “For me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4).

If Christ is my life… If I am in Him and He is in me… If every breath I take and every move I make is because of and given to me by Him, then why am I so unaware of His grace and presence?

Anthony de Mello, a Jesuit Catholic priest, says that we are all asleep. We need to wake up to reality. God is the only true reality. How do we define “insanity?” An insane person is someone who is out of touch with reality. By that definition, most all of us most of the time are insane. The pathway to sanity is what de Mello calls “awareness.” Awareness simply means “being conscious of.” It’s all a matter of PERSPECTIVE.

Okay, you say, how can we become more “conscious of” Jesus in our daily lives? I’m glad you asked.

First of all, we need to start treating Jesus as a Person instead of an “it.” Christianity is not a doctrine, or a set of rules and guidelines to follow. Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but He is also our Friend and Brother. He wants to share and enjoy life with us, not just sit on His throne and observe. He came to earth to be with us. He wants to walk with us, talk with us, hang out with us. He wants to communicate with us in a manner where no topic is off limits.

Secondly, we need to acknowledge His presence in all we do. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). We start by thanking Him whenever we are enjoying all the things God has supplied for us (1 Timothy 6:17). For example, when I’m eating my favorite foods, I simply say, “Boy this is good, Lord. Thank You.” When I love on Marley and Gracie, I say, “Thanks for the love and joy these two give me, Lord. Thanks for making them just for me.” “Lord, I can see. I can hear. I can feel. I can taste. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!” Gratefulness is the doorway to awareness.

Thirdly, whenever you feel unsettled, worried, afraid, anxious, etc., and as soon as you are aware of your feelings, tell Jesus about it. For instance, “Lord, I’m worried about _____. How are WE going to deal with this?” Simply ask Him to handle it FOR you. He will never force His will or opinion on you, but He is delighted whenever we give Him the wheel to guide us through the rough spots of our journey.

Fourthly, set aside at least fifteen minutes a day, preferably first thing in the morning, to sit quietly before the Lord and just wait for and listen to Him. Read a short passage of Scripture, or a short devotional thought to get your mind inclined toward Him. I have found Sarah Young’s devotional, Jesus Calling, to be excellent as it is written as if Jesus is talking directly to you. Listen quietly to some worshipful music. At first, you may find it difficult to quieten you mind, but don’t fight it. Your thoughts will settle down the more you sit still before Him. You will soon find that your time with Him is so sweet that fifteen minutes is not enough. You might want to keep a journal and pen handy to record His wisdom and guidance when you stop thinking enough to allow Him to speak.

Fifthly, ask Jesus to keep you aware of His presence throughout the day as He lives in us, through us, for us, and as us. He most certainly will because He is our life. Remember we no longer live but Christ lives IN us.

Resolve to see EVERYTHING that comes into your life has been ordained by the Lord for your good and His glory, and I will guarantee that this year will be your happiest New Year ever.

Don’t focus on how rough your journey has been. Focus on how wonderful your story… HIStory… will be when He sees you through it.

Happy New Year, Beloved!

Blessings,

Kenny