[Isaiah 43:19] SEE I AM DOING A NEW THING

The LORD has promised to give us many new things.

A NEW HEART

[Psalm 51:10] Create in me a new heart.

We do not want an old heart [Jeremiah 17:9] says,

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it?

[Mark 7:21] Whatever comes out of a man is what make him 'unclean'.

[Ezekiel 3b:26] I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

[1 Samuel 16:7] Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

Let Lord see in out hearts, forgiveness, the joy of salvation, holiness, divine (godly) character, righteousness and humility.

[1 Peter 2:1-2] So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness.

Then you'll grow up mature and whole in GOD.

Rev. Rachel (Senior Pastor)

"What sort of New Year's Resolution should a Christian make?"

The practice of making New Year resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. the Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year's resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year's resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year's resolution are:
==> to quit smoking
==> to stop drinking
==> to manage money better
==> and spent more time with family.

By far the most common New Year's resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set.

However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective:
"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

The vast majority of New Year's resolutions, even among the Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year's resolution to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals.

However, these New Year's resolution fail just as often as the non spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year's resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity.

For example, why do you want to read the Bible everyday? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have heard that it is a good thing to do?

Why do you want to lose weight? is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tell us, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

John 15:5 declares, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

If God is the center of your New Year's resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God's will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God's Word, we will not received God's help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year's resolution should a Christians make? Here are some suggestions: resolution, if....

(1) Pray to the lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make;
(2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you;
(3) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you;
(4) Don't become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further;
(5) Don't become proud or vain, but give God the glory.

Psalm 37:5-6, "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this:
He will make righteousness shine like a dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."