Sermonette: January 11, 2021

A Happy and Blessed New Year to you.

I've got a question for you. How many of you made a new year resolution this year? I have another question. How many of those resolutions are still being kept? My guess is not very many but hopefully I'm wrong. Unfortunately, many of these resolutions that do fail to work are worthwhile and following through with them would certainly be beneficial to you and those around you. Some very good resolutions that you may have made might have been to quit smoking, start exercising, start eating healthy, cut down on alcohol consumption, just to name a few. They are certainly admirable resolutions. The problem is they were new year resolutions. Why is that a problem? Glad you asked. Researchers, I don't recall the organization or persons that conducted this study, discovered that if you are serious about making a change in your life, a significant change, the worst possible way to go about it is to make it a new year resolution. Again you ask why and again I'm glad you asked. The reason is that many a new year resolution is made knowing that it will be broken. The goal seems to be is to see how long it will take before it gets broken, not to actually succeed. To make a promise to yourself as a new year resolution, and then fail, isn't a big deal. After all, it was only a new year resolution and it is expected that they don't last so we are in the clear. We didn't really fail.

Let's move to the second-worst time to resolve to make a positive change in our lives. I must admit I've been guilty of this one more than once and I'm guessing I'm not alone on this one. Monday. The second worse time to effect a change in our lives is to say “Starting on Monday I'm going to ______.

The problem here is there is always another Monday next week. We want to make a positive change but right of the bat, we delay in doing so. Once we finally start out, something comes up and the resolution gets broken. No problem you tell yourself. I'm going to really start that diet next Monday instead. Yep, come Monday I'm going to get this house cleaned top to bottom and throw out all that junk in those boxes in the closet that I've had for years. Or, I'm going to start walking to work, next Monday. I could go on and on here but you get the picture. There is always next Monday to start anew in case we break a resolution, fifty-two of them every year.

So, when is the best time to make a resolution; the best time to make a promise to yourself? It is right now. Today. Instead of saying you are going to quit smoking when the pack is gone, throw that pack in the garbage and start today. Instead of starting a Bible reading program on Monday, the first of the month, first of the year or whenever, start it today. You want to kick-start your prayer habits, again, don't postpone it, don't delay it, start today. Want to increase your church attendance or your financial giving to your church? Don't wait until next month, do it this week.

If you want to get closer to God, if you want to have him play a bigger part in your life, don't delay, don't set an artificial starting point. Do it now. The best part is, you don't have to go full blast. God loves any and all attention you give him. If you resolve to start reading the bible, don't try to read an hour day or 50 pages a day. Don't start with Genesis and read forward because you will hit Leviticus and your reading will hit a wall. But, maybe five to 10 minutes or a chapter a day in one of the Gospels or one of Paul's shorter letters. As you get into the swing of things, then gradually increase if you wish. God will love your effort.

Want to pray more but not sure how? A good way to start is a three-second prayer, twice a day, every day. When you wake up in the morning, give God just three seconds. “Good Morning God. Thank you for giving me this day. Amen. And in the evening when going to bed. “Good evening God. Thank you for being with me today. Amen.” Do this every day for two weeks and before you know it, your prayers will grow in length and you will begin to enjoy them. Church attendance? The important thing of course is to start attending but you needn't go full blast at the start. Start going regularly and eventually you may feel like volunteering for some of the tasks that need to be done like ushering, reading, working in the kitchen for funerals, etc. Before you know it, you will enjoy your church and look forward to being involved in worship and serving God and your church.

I hope this has been helpful to you. The important thing to remember is that whatever you chose to start, stop, or change, you have God as a partner. He loves us. It doesn't make any difference if it has been weeks, months or years since you have had him in your life. He will be so happy to welcome you back. Give it a try... Today. Happy New Year.

Yours In Christ.