Wednesday 4 January 2012

How are those New Year’s resolutions bearing up? Four days in and I bet some of those diets have been broken; the running shoes are still in the box; the smoking ban you’ve enforced upon yourself will probably kick in just after this weekend’s night out.

Maybe you’re up to Genesis 4 on that Bible plan you drew up – keep going if that’s the case. Maybe you’ve been setting the alarm earlier to get up and pray – keep going if that’s the case. Maybe that charity you’ve wanted to support for ages has yet to receive your payment – go for it if that’s the case.

Perhaps you didn’t bother going to church in 2011 and have been weighing up the options now that 2012 has arrived – just give it a shot; they’ll make you feel so welcome when you walk through those doors. And if they don’t, it isn’t your fault - move on to somewhere that does.

I was reading something in the book of Hebrews this morning – it’s towards the end of the Bible, in case you’re reading this and aren’t familiar with the order. It said:

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.’

Will you join the crowd again for another 12 months? Or will you realise that 2012 is a year where bigger changes can be made – a bit more significant than some narrow resolutions. The changes that you’re currently putting in place may lead to firmer foundations in God. Or they may not make much of a difference. Ask Him and He’ll tell you which they are.