Resolutions 2019

Dear Friends,
The website YouGov.com surveyed Americans to learn what resolutions people mere committing to in 2019. Respondents were allowed to include more than one in their responses. Here’s the list:
• Eat better — 37 percent
• Exercise more — 37 percent
• Spend less money — 37 percent
• Self-care (e.g. getting more sleep) — 24 percent
• Read more books —18 percent
• Learn a new skill — 15 percent
• Get a new job — 14 percent
• Make new friends — 13 percent
• New hobby — 13 percent
• Focus more on appearance — 12 percent
• Focus on relationship — 12 percent
• Cut down on cigarettes/alcohol — 9 percent
• Go on more dates — 7 percent
• Focus less on appearance — 3 percent

Here are the same resolutions as a Christian might think about them.

Eat better — Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3b (NIV)

Exercise more — 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. 1 Timothy 4:8

Spend less money — I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11

Get more sleep — In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Read more books — For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Learn a new skill — Bless all his skills, LORD, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Deuteronomy 33:11

Get a new job — Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

Make new friends — The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26

New hobby: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Spend more time seeking the Holy One than a hole-in-one!)

Focus on appearance — “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b

Focus on relationship — In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7

Cut down on cigarettes/alcohol — Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Go on more dates — Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Focus less on appearance — “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:25b-26

When we were discussing New Year’s resolutions with my 86-year old sister, she offered two resolutions that she felt would help her have a better year.

• Have more patience
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
Ecclesiastes 7:8

• Give Jesus a bigger share of my heart
But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Those are two resolutions 100% of us could commit to.

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ