Pastor's Ponderings, December 29, 2014

Yes, We Will Keep Our New Year's Resolutions

This is the last Pastor’s Ponderings for 2014 and hopefully you are as eager as I am to begin 2015.    What are your plans for next year? While many are aiming to meet new milestones in life, some of us are just trying to stop doing the things that we know we shouldn't be doing. We will vow to stop our secret sins, bad habits, or continued indiscretions.

Unfortunately, by the time the next blog is released, many of us will have already broken our New Year’s resolutions. What can we do this year to make our plans stick? How can we learn to be more resolute in 2015 than we were in 2014?

The Bible shows us that we can change our lives for the better.  However, we cannot depend upon ourselves to live the life God wants for us. We must depend upon Jesus who loves us (John 8:38-39). Jesus promised to help us from stumbling and falling away from our commitments (Jude 1:24). Every time an opportunity to mess up presents itself, God promised that He would give us an open door to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).   

Your challenge could be over eating, substance abuse, procrastination, or even complaining. But whatever you are struggling with - you are not alone! God is with you and if you depend on him, He can keep you from falling back into those habits.

This year end when we are planning our New Year’s resolutions, let us turn to God who, because He loves us, can keep us from stumbling once again and can deliver us from any temptation.

Happy New Year In Christ!

Romans 8:38-39
New International Version (NIV)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jude 1:24
New International Version (NIV)

24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—

1 Corinthians 10:13
New International Version (NIV)

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.