December, 2006 Newsletter

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Another New Year’s Resolution?

Well, it’s hard to imagine, but the year 2007 is right around the corner. I don’t know about you, but for me, “time is flying by.” Whether it’s because I’m getting older or my wife and I are juggling three kids or a little of both, life does seem to be moving by quickly. And of course, the hustle and bustle of the Christmas and New Year season doesn’t always help the situation. Nevertheless, it might be a wise for us to set aside some time again during this holiday season to set up a few New Year’s resolutions for ourselves. I realize that a number of people have thrown this tradition aside because they have failed to keep their resolutions time and time again in the past. Yet I believe that a bona fide attempt at keeping a good resolution can in and of itself be a good learning experience. You might be a better person simply from the attempt. Therefore, let me suggest a few possible resolutions to help you get on track or to stay on track with your relationship with Jesus Christ.

One possible resolution could be to commit to reading and studying the Bible this upcoming year. Please note that I did not say, “read” the Bible alone, but “study” the Bible as well. We need the balance of reading through the Bible to get an overview of what God has to say to us and studying the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of God. What would be a reasonable resolution? What about reading through the New Testament in 2007 and studying just one of the New Testament books in depth? There are plenty of resources today online and in the Christian book stores that can help you with this type of resolution.

Another resolution could be to set aside a time and place for prayer each day. It might help to keep a prayer list or a prayer journal to keep track of all the prayers that you lift up to God. You can attempt to set aside a block of time each day to talk to God about the various concerns not only of your life, but also the lives of your family, friends, and the world. How about setting aside five minutes or more during your work week for prayer? As you learn to spend more time in prayer with God, you will hopefully grow in your understanding of what it means to put your trust in the Lord.

Another possible resolution could be to join a small group of some kind for the upcoming year. Whether you are a group of two or of ten, it is always helpful to grow in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ with others. In this world, it is helpful not just to be encouraged, but to encourage others in their spiritual growth. Yes, sometimes in our encouraging, we are encouraged. Our society does not make it easy to follow Jesus Christ; therefore, it is well worth your time to commit to join up with other Christians for the sake of helping each other keep on the right track. If you are presently part of a small group, I challenge you to continue your work of encouragement and support of each other.

Well, these are only a few possible suggestions out of many for a New Year’s resolution. Take the time to pray and ask the Lord for the commitments that he would like you to make for the upcoming year. I challenge you to do something beyond your normal spiritual routine in the year 2007. I pray and hope that the resolution or resolutions you make with the Lord’s help will help your faith to continue to grow and blossom during the New Year. Whenever it seems like “time is flying by,” remember that as you work through these types of resolutions, you are making sure that time doesn’t fly by meaninglessly.

— Pastor Lester Yamashita

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