It’s a few days before the New Year and you’re probably already making “resolutions” for 2012, right? I am going to start a new diet and stick to it. I am going to get on a budget and stick to it. I am going to church every Sunday and I’m going to pay my tithes right. I am going to let go of all the bull crap this year because it is a new year and new me! I am not going to let folks use me this year, I am not going to let my baby daddy walk all over me and I’m going to start treating folks better. But my question is, “Why wait until the New Year?” All of these things can be done, right now. You don’t have to wait until the year changes to change because you will be the same person on 1/1/12, right?
If you have an addiction that you want to get rid of, do it now and stop saying that you can’t. If you want to give up those cigarettes, put them down. If you want to lose weight, then stop piling all the food on your plate. If you know you can’t afford the house you’re in, move. If you can’t afford the credit card charges, stop using them. All of the things that you are declaring will be different in the New Year can actually start now. A resolution is defined as an intention made or an expression of opinion. But how do you know if you will even make it into the New Year? Proverbs 27:1 says “Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.” You are waiting for the year to change and it could be worse than 2011, then what will you do? If you have intentions on changing, then start now. James 4:14 says “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” So, why wait?
Watching the news and seeing the devastation that has changed some families’ lives over this Holiday Season, it lets me know that no one is promised the next hour. One moment you are enjoying Christmas and the next, you’re watching your home be destroyed by fire. One moment, you’re talking to your sister on the phone and the next; you’re identifying her body because a drunk driver took her life. Why put off for tomorrow what you can do today? Don’t wait until tomorrow to tell me you love me, because it might be too late. Don’t wait until Sunday to get your praise on because you may not see it. Don’t wait until momma is gone before you get your life in order because she just might out live you. Don’t wait until you think it is the right time to join church, because there is never a right time. Ephesians 5:15-17 says “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
God wants the best for you because if he didn’t he wouldn’t bless you every day. I know that you think just because you’re struggling, there isn’t a blessing in it but I am here to tell you there is. See, in your struggling you get strength and with strength comes stability and stability brings with it salvation. Salvation is defined as somebody or something that protects or delivers another from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure. My Salvation, your salvation and our salvation is God. Psalm 28:7 says “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” I know that you think because death keeps attacking your family, that there isn’t a blessing in it but the bible says in Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” See in living you get heartache, but dying you gain a never-ending heartbeat. In living you get mess but dying you get the Messiah. In living you get pain but dying gives you never-ending praise. In living you get sleepless nights but dying you gain rest. In living you get strife but dying gives you shouting. In living you get worldly stuff that can be taken but dying gives you a home that man’s hands didn’t touch. In living you go through hell but dying gives you Heaven.
There isn’t anything wrong with making New Year Resolution but why do you have to wait? Matthew 6:34 says “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Live for today and allow the present to be just that, a gift. If you spend more time worried about changing in the New Year, you’ll forget about today. Philippians 4:6 says “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Isn’t that enough to get you through?
Lakisha, the Author 