New Year's Resolutions

Many people make New Year's resolutions, but statistics show they usually aren't successful. Only about 8% of the resolutions made around January 1 are kept. In fact, so many people have failed to keep them that only about 45% of Americans make them anymore.

But what if your resolution centered around your faith? What if you allowed the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you needed to work on during the coming year? And what if, instead of trying to live up to that resolution on your own, you relied on God's strength and power - you allowed Him to take control? 

I think we sometimes view setbacks as failures and see failures as permanent. Jesus didn't. Look at how he dealt with the people most others considered failures - tax collectors, beggars, prostitutes, etc. He not only ate with tax collectors, like Zacchaeus, but He called one to become His disciple (Levi who became Matthew). He told of Lazarus, the beggar, who sat a the rich man's gate and of others who won favor by their humble, kind spirit. And, look how He dealt with the woman at the well. He offered her living water if she would accept who He was. When the Pharisees were about to stone a woman caught in adultery, He saved her with a simple statement and then said He didn't condemn her but to go and sin no more.

I've talked with Christians who've become discouraged with their failures. They're ready to give up trying. But if they ask forgiveness, their sins are wiped away, and they get a new start. If you'll let Him, God can even use your failures for good. If you're willing to learn, you can become a better person each time. Don't think you have to live a sinless life. Surrender to God and live by His direction and His grace in this new year!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

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