Happy New Year of No Resolutions

Happy 2008! The period of time in many peoples lives where resolutions are made, fitness club contracts are signed, fitness club owners pay cash for new Porsche's, and where we are just a month or more away from watching many people we know settle into a funk because they were unable to keep their resolutions. Ah! Maybe I'm a little cynical.

I'm not one on making resolutions, but then I'm not a person that places an emphasis on time or keeps very good track of it. I'm not talking about punctuality. That is totally different. Rather, I am referring to people who see a new year as a new page of life, a fresh start like freshly fallen snow before the snowplow comes through and splatters the crisp whiteness with chunks of road salt and grime. I am not that person. For me, years run together. So while I have things that people might see as resolutions, they are not really new years resolutions. At different times and in various ways I become convicted or convinced of changes that I need to make in my life. I don't wait for a fresh page of life to began writing on that page, but rather I began implementing the changes as soon as I can.

I have decided to list some of my lifestyle changes that I am currently working on. So, if you would like, you may refer to them as new year resolutions, though in reality, most of them have been and will continue to be works in progress.

By God's grace I will continue to improve in the following areas.

1. Become more dependent on God. Specifically in my prayer life. I have referred in the past to this major weakness in my Christian walk and have begun to study prayer biblically so that I may become more reliant upon God. I am starting a personal prayer journal to hold myself accountable. Expect to see more posts on prayer in the coming year as God graciously works in this area of my life.

2. End a really bad habit. I don't know when exactly this started, but a few years ago I fell into a pattern of reading multiple books at the same time. I never used to do this. I have always been the type of person that picks up a book and finishes it before starting a new one. Not anymore. I think it started when I had a bunch of books that I wanted to read that all were purchased at the same time. I couldn't wait to read them all so I read them all at the same time. It is a really bad habit as it seems to lead to a lot of re-reading due to the lack of continuity. As you can see, I'm not doing to well on this one as I have added two new books that I am currently reading without finishing the ones I was already reading.

3. Continue to catechize my children. My children do a lot of scripture memory for AWANA and that is good, but I really want them to understand the doctrines of the Bible. Giving them a firm foundation for their own theology is very important to what I believe my role as a father is. We are using this copy of the Westminster Shorter Catechism for those who are interested.

4. By God's grace continue to improve on my personal time management. That I would continue to weed out the hay and stubble in my life and focus my time on items that have eternal value.

Eph 5:15-16 "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Col 4:2-6 "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.