New Year…new you?

We are now almost two weeks into 2013 and I wonder if anything has changed for you.  If you are like me, the New Year seems like a natural time to hope for things to be different.  It’s why we make resolutions, isn’t it?  We see things that we want to change in our lives and set goals to help us achieve them.  It might be that we hope this will be the year that a sin we struggle with will be defeated or a new godly discipline will be adopted...I'm sure you could fill in your own resolution!

But often these resolutions don't last much longer than lifespan of the first couple of the days of January.  I wonder are you still trying to keep yours?  So with that in mind how might we actually keep our resolutions?  Well I've put together (borrowed from other blogs, I admit) a few tips on how we might keep going in this year or restart if you've already stopped!  My personal resolution is to read the Bible everyday – hopefully the Bible in a year.  So these tips are tailored more specifically towards Bible reading but they could be applied to most of our resolutions.

• Don't Overextend 

Set yourself an achievable goal.  In terms of Bible reading it's better to read one chapter a day, every day, than four a day, every now and then.  Moreover, the value of meditation cannot be overstressed.  Meditation isn't spiritualized daydreaming; it's riveted reflection on revelation. Read less, if you must, to meditate more. It's easy to encounter a torrent of God's truth, but without absorption---and application---you will be little better for the experience.

• Don't Do It Alone

When it comes to Bible reading consistency, a solo sport mentality can be lethal.  Surely that's why many run out of gas; they feel like they're running alone.  To forestall the dangers of isolation, then, invite one or two others to join you in 2013.  Set goals, make a commitment, and hold one another accountable.  Turn your personal Scripture reading into a team effort, a community project.  It’s great to see some of us using the church Facebook page to find partner’s to encourage one another in getting up early to read their Bible.  Do get in touch if you want to join the 6am club!  Or you might want to share in the comments below and we can commit to pray for one another. 

• Don't Just Do It Whenever

Every morning we awaken to a fresh deluge of information.  It is imperative, then, to set a specific time each day when you will get alone with God.  Even if it's a modest window, guard it with your life.  Otherwise, the tyranny of the urgent will continue to rear its ugly head.  What is urgent will fast displace what is important, and what is good will supplant what is best.

• Don't Turn a Means of Grace into a Means of Merit

Your Father's love for you doesn't rise and fall with your achieving your goal.  If you are united to Jesus by faith, the verdict is out, and the court is dismissed.  You're as accepted and embraced as the Son himself.  Nothing can change that.  Of course we desire to become more like Christ and we want to commit to being obedient to his commands.  In his second letter Peter challenges us that God’s grace requires us to do something.  He says we should want to “make every effort to supplement your faith”.  We should want to add to, and increase the generous gift of faith God has given to us.   Because the natural, rightful response of a heart safe in Christ is to strive to grow more like him.  And this requires effort on our part.  God does not wave a magic wand and we become perfect overnight.  Instead God wants us to play a part in our sanctification.

So as another year dawns, I pray that you will be able to commit to whatever goal you have set yourself.  I commend you to make a goal which does help you become more and more like Christ but don't overextend, do it alone, just do it whenever, or treat means of grace like means of merit.  Instead be realistic, involve others, be disciplined and do it from a heart motivated by love.