In a World Where You Can Be Anything, Be Kind

The first week of January seems like a good time to think about resolutions. While it’s not pointless to think about resolving to do better, be better, if you do nothing, then why bother? I decided to look for some help and found some tips to help make and keep our 2022 New Year’s resolutions!

Janet Starkey

• Be specific and realistic
• Create a plan
• Be accountable to yourself and others
• Find joy in the process

Okay. So, this research wasn’t particularly helpful, and I didn’t feel more prepared to commit my resolutions to paper. Determined to find other help, I pressed on.

Many of you may already know Greg Laurie. I’ve only just discovered his writings. Last year he wrote, “I don’t know about New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in resolution, which means having resolve or determination to do something. Every one of us should have resolution in our lives. We need goals. We need objectives. And we need things to aim for in life.”

Now, we’re getting somewhere!

Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14 after years of walking with God, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Spiritual resolve! Greg continued with, “…we cannot be controlled by past mistakes or live in past victories. So if you blew it last year, then learn from it, and don’t do it again. Make changes in your behavior, your habit patterns, and your choices so you won’t go down that road again.

“At the same time, if God did something wonderful in your life last year, don’t live in past victories. A whole new year is before you with many new opportunities. So press on toward what God has for you.”

Today, my resolutions are (inspired by Pastor Neal) to focus on being kind, being honest, and being fair, and to learn from the past and open my mind and heart to our new future.

In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Prayers for a blessed new year,
~Janet