New Year’s Resolutions? 

In past years I’ve made resolutions to lose weight, eat better, exercise more etc.  Everything I’ve thought about doing pertained to the physical or material aspects of life.  As I mature in my walk with the Lord, I have found that Jesus was so right when He said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33). 

Are you familiar with the praise song, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”?  The first stanza is this…. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”. 

All the years of trying to better my physical appearance or my social or economic position were for nothing.  All that I’ve done for the temporal is nothing compared to that which is done to affect the eternal.  Matt 6:19-21 says.. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This year I resolve to read and study scripture more.  I also resolve to meditate more on the word of God, to spend more time in prayer and to be diligent in witnessing to the lost and to put my priorities in order. 

Those priorities will be God first, my wife second, my family third, work, and then everything else down the line. 

What will you resolve to do in 2012? 

I pray that God will convict you to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, to prioritize properly and to lead others to hope in Jesus.

In His Name,

Pastor Larry Hale