It's Time For A Resolution Revolution!

A recent article listed the 5 most popular resolutions that people make every year. The 5th was to take up a new hobby, the 4th was to make more money, the 3rd was to improve relationships, the 2nd was to stop smoking and the most popular was losing weight.

So, how many of those resolutions have you made....and quickly broken?!?!

In light of the popularity of making (and breaking!) resolutions, I challenged the folks at Smyrna Assembly of God (http://www.smyrnaassembly.com/) to join me in a Resolution Revolution! Instead of just resolving to change, my encouragement was to make a commitment to the following five life-changes:

1. Stop Making Excuses - We must take responsibility for our lives and stop making excuses for the things that we dont' like. Proverbs 28:13 says, "A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confess and forsakes them he gets another chance" (Living Bible). Albert Einstein said, "I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time, I am right."
2. Take An Inventory Of Your Life - I contend that most of us have had more good things to happen in our life than bad things. When we stop to inventory our life, we will likely see that more clearly than when we only focus on the negative things. Romans 8:28 says, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (NKJV).
3. Act In Faith - There are times when we simply need to act on the things that we already know we should be doing. James 2:26 says, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (NKJV).
4. Refocus Your Thoughts - Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character because it becomes your destiny. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts" (Good News Bible).
5. Trust God For Your Success - We must depend on God for success in those things that we do. Success requires action. We’ve proven that we can’t do it alone. In fact, about the only really successful thing most of us have ever done, by ourselves, is to successfully fail! Psalm 90:17 says, "Lord, may Your blessings be upon us. Give us success in all we do" (Good News Bible).

In 2009, you will have 12 months or 52 weeks or 365 days or 8,760 hours or 525,600 minutes or 31,536,000 seconds to make something happen. Don’t get stuck in the rut of last year’s successes or failures. Your past has passed! A new day has dawned! Seize it! Embrace it! Enjoy it!