“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  Philippians 4:8

As the New Year begins, people make resolutions, most of which are broken by the end of January. But, strangely, they are all about what people are going to do, rather than what they are not going to do.

Have you considered making a list of what you are not going to do during the coming year? If so, I suggest that you begin with your thought process.

One of my favorite quotes is from an unknown person: “Sow a thought and you reap an act. Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Some decisions lead to amazing destinies!

It is said that we become what we think about all day long. The seedbed of sin is in the brain. What you think about you do and what you do becomes a habit that becomes a part of your character.

Bad thoughts conform us to the world and lead us to sin. Paul, writing in Romans tells us to rise above the world in order to discern the will of God.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. Romans 12:2

Yes, God calls us to rise above and be transformed with a renewing of our mind and to think about whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, things of excellence and anything worthy of praise.

So as we usher in this new year, let’s make a list of things we won’t think about and concentrate on the renewing of our mind.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

As our mind is stayed on Him, we grow in faith, grace and character. May this coming year be a blessing to you and may you concentrate on being a blessing to others.

By John Grant
Used by Permission

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practiing attorney.

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At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31

THE RESOLUTION

Well, believe it or not, a new year is here. 2024 is history and 2025 is a blank slate. What are you going to write on it?

January is the month of “resolutions”, many of them. People make more resolutions in this month than in all the remaining ones combined…. Loose weight, quit bad habits and the list goes on. More gym plans are sold this month than in all of the remaining ones.

People focus on worldly and personal resolutions more than on spiritual ones, yet those are the most important. Remember that God makes resolutions as well. We, as believers, are His people and He will guide our paths and watch over us. But what will we resolve for Him.

First, as we are His people, He wants us to resolve that He is our God. Resolve to be in His word daily and to pray to Him for all things in our lives. He also wants us to be a part of His community. But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” I Corinthians 12:18

The Swiss are famous for their precision watchmaking. Generations of highly skilled craftsmen assemble many different and essential parts to make their timepiece. Even the smallest gear, if not installed at the right spot, will render the watch inoperable.

It is much the same in other facets of our lives. The right combination of employees performing their specialties makes the company run smoothly. A family whose members function as God intended runs well. A community must have all its departments and leaders on the same page to serve their citizens.

And God has equipped the church to have members who come together like a finely tuned watch in order to further the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Some are gifted as teachers. Some are administrators. Some are givers. And so on.

Just as watchmakers look for the right parts in the right place; just as a family fulfills its roles; just as a community serves its people; so also, the body of Christ, when believers fulfill their given gifts in the right way, functions as God ordained.

Resolve to get to church, find your gift, you are needed.

Resolve to get spiritually and morally straight and become a functioning part of the family of God.

by John Grant
used be permission

FURTHER READING

• A Different Kind of Resolution
• A New Year’s Resolution – by Skip Moen
• New Year Resolutions – Can We Keep Them? – by John Grant

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Let your way of life be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5

Content – How’s it working out for you?  Has it been a tough year?  Have you struggled?  I have.  Maybe most of us have.  We all know economic woes, but in the long run, those don’t really matter too much, do they?  The things that really bother us are usually far more personal than our money.  In fact, if money is so personal in your life that it rises to the top of the list, then it’s probably time to read this verse again.  The real point of this verse is contentment.  That’s the biggest struggle for most of us.  We are a long way away from the prayer of the sages: “Lord, make my heart so malleable that I am ready and willing to accept whatever You provide for me.”  We need to learn contentment.  I suppose that process is very much the same as the one which says, “And He learned obedience through suffering” (Hebrews 5:8).

Frankly, contentment is impossible unless I trust the Lord.  That’s why the author of Hebrews points us toward His faithfulness.  How can I be content if I think contentment is about anything except His faithfulness?  If my contentment rests on any other foundation, I will be disappointed, won’t I?  This is a good time to reflect on the truth that whatever the world provides, it can repossess (with interest).  A life built on sand is a life built on people, possessions and power.  It’s wonderful when you have these things but they are merely blessings of His grace.  In the end, life must be built on something more solid than blessings.  The rock-bottom of contentment is the fact that He will not forsake us, even when everything else seems to evaporate.

The Greek verb here is arkeo.  It is essentially the expression of being satisfied with the provision of God.  “My grace is sufficient” is exactly the same concept (and word).  God provides.  How He provides and what He provides is not my concern.  My concern is simply that He does provide and I am called to rest in that truth.  The real character of my life is reflected in the foundation of my rest.  May I be restless to do His will – and to rest in Him.  This is the sacred balance: that His purpose becomes my driving force and His character becomes my contentment.  The entire message of Scripture can be read in these words:  May I find rest in You, O Lord.

Do you need a New Year’s resolution worth pursuing?  Try this:  Rest, O my soul, in the graciousness of God.

by Skip Moen
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• More Content Relating to the New Year
• Every Reason to be Content –  by Max Lucado
• Learn to be Content – by Phil Ware
• The Secret of Being Content by Max Lucado

The post A New Year’s Resolution appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“And Joshua said unto all the people [of Israel], . . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:2, 15).

It’s late fall and the Indians on a remote reservation in South Dakota asked their new chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn’t tell what the winter was going to be like.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared. But, being a practical leader, after several days, he got an idea He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, ‘Is the coming winter going to be cold?’ ‘It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold,’ the meteorologist at the weather service responded.

So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared. A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. ‘Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?‘
‘Yes,‘ the man at National Weather Service again replied, ‘it’s going to be a very cold winter.’

The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find. Two weeks later, the chief called the National Weather Service again. ‘Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?’ ‘Absolutely,’ the man replied.  ‘It’s looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters we’ve ever seen.’ ‘How can you be so sure?’ the chief asked. The weatherman replied, ‘The Indians are collecting a load of firewood‘

Now, while that’s a cute story and probably tells you more truth about the weather service than you want to know, there’s a real lesson here to ask as you move into a new year.

In the coming year, just who or what are you going to rely on for leading and advice? Who will you serve? Where will you place your trust? What do you consider to be your sources of wisdom?

While millions are making resolutions, most of which will be broken within thirty days, I challenge you to focus on the questions above and answer them with true sincerity. If you get advice from the right places, serve the right leading, place your trust in the right source and get your wisdom from the right places, the day to day decisions will take care of themselves.

Joshua challenged his people to choose who they would serve but said that for him and for him house, they would serve the Lord. So many people today place their trust in what the world calls wisdom, but the Psalmist said it best: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

In the coming year, pray that we all may do nothing less.

by John Grant (a thought on life from John Grant)
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

More  New Year Articles

FURTHER READING

God is Thinking about You
God’s Mysterious Ways

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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The post On Whom Will You Rely in the Coming Year? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should” Psalm 90:12

Having measurable goals is good because life is short. Striving to reach your goals is good.

Jesus knew why He was on earth and everything He did and said moved Him toward that goal (to seek and save the lost). He always had time for people, but time with His Father was of utmost importance to Him. He needed to get direction from His Father.

We can set big goals (lifetime) or little ones (clean the deep freeze). We can set spiritual goals, self-improvement goals, career, educational, fun, weight-loss, housekeeping, decorating or cleaning goals.

I confess that I am a results-oriented person. I set measurable goals for myself and I work hard (with the Holy Spirit’s direction and power) to reach those goals.

Not long ago, I was going through some papers and found ministry goals I had set for myself eight years ago. I was amazed to see how God had honored the goals and the faith of the team working with me – far beyond my biggest dreams. God honors and is pleased with faith.

My husband has often said,

“If you don’t have a target or goal, any road will get you there.”

Conversely, if you set measurable goals, trusting God to provide your needs, you can count on God’s faithfulness to reach them. One of my deep desires is when I stand before God, He will say,

“Well done, my faithful servant.”

In my life and ministry, I have worked with and observed many people. Sometimes I am saddened to see that many never use or develop the talents God has given them.

Are you adequately investing the talents God has given you?

Do you pray and ask God to help you set measurable goals for the tasks He has called you to?

Do you set priorities?

If not, let me encourage you to begin the habit of doing so.

Father God, most of us will live seventy-five years or more. You have planned every day of our lives – yet given us a free will to follow You and Your wonderful plan for our lives or go our own way. Father, help us to number our days – realizing that life goes by so quickly. And help us do what counts. Enable us to recognize when we are diddling our days away with frivolous things. Cause us to do what counts for eternity. Amen.

by Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  I Had Three Basic Goals in Life 

•  Accomplishing Your Dreams

•  Spiritual Family Financial Goals – by John Grant

•  Salvation Explained

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The post Measurable Goals appeared first on Thoughts About God.