Spiritual Resolutions

Every year I encourage and exhort you my readers to make some New Year's Resolutions.  Some people hate the idea, others relish an opportunity to re-evaluate.  Which are you?  I ask this because the concept of time passing from an old year to a new year is a good point at which to reaccess your life. Do you need to make some spiritual resolutions?

Biblically speaking there is justification for this. In general, the Bible teaches us to "consider our ways"-Haggai 1:7. It puts self-reflection front and center and encourages us to focus more upon that, rather then pondering the ways of others. "Why are you looking at the speck in your brother's eye, when there is a log in your own?"-Matthew 7:3.

Jesus really got to the heart of the matter didn't he? In our sin nature, we would like to focus on what our ex-husband, wife or mother did rather than contemplate our own sins and misdeeds. We frequently come up with excuses for why we did the wrong thing but can so easily condemn others. Jesus dealt with this wrong focus and hypocrisy in the story of Mary Magdelene.  You can read that story in John 8:1-11. The Bible takes spiritual resolutions to the next level. In your relationship with Jesus, it is always a good day to resolve to change for the better, not just at the New Year. We learn this in the story of the woman caught in adultery when Jesus says, "Go and sin no more."

However, we do find reference to a God ordained New Year’s celebration in Leviticus."Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an Holy convocation"-Leviticus 23:24-25. This feast came to be called by various names such as the Feast of Trumpets, and Rosh Hashanah.  Rosh Hashanah literally means "head of the year" or new year. God instituted this special celebration and declared that it should be a sabbath!

This imparts a very special meaning to the concept of a New Year.  Firstly, it places God directly at the center of the celebration. Secondly, there is the element of rest that God intended the Sabbath to have. For more biblical wisdom on the celebration of New Year's you need only go a few verses further in Leviticus to see the concept of New Year's being a time of repentance too. " And this shall be a statute forever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth  among you". We have to take this to heart.  Cleanse yourself from past sin and resolve to be a better person.  Ask God to help you break your bad habits.

Why not take a relationship survey? How are things going? What can you do to change bad interactions.  Is there someone who you exchange barbs with at school or work? Do you always fight with your parents?  Sometimes, we get caught in cyclical patterns of interaction and think there is no way out.  That is not true. Worse yet, it is a lie of Satan.  It certainly does not represent godly thinking. Let's get in line with Jesus when he states that he does not condemn us but gives us the command to leave the old ways behind.

In other words, focus for a moment on what you are doing.  Forget what your boss, boyfriend or brother has done and focus more on surrendering and following God in your own life.  Are you sarcastic in the lunch room? Do you just go along to get along? Jesus wants us to make a difference in this world. If someone watching the whole thing can't tell who the Christian in the group is, then you need to make some spiritual resolutions. Don't be so independent and try to do it on your own.  Be humble and realize that you need God everyday and in every way.  Ask Jesu to help you make this a better year than the one before.