The New Year 2019

We rarely make a big deal about New Year’s Eve. Usually we just spend it with a few friends. We seldom make it to midnight, although we did this year…and saw a few fireworks over the Destin harbor from our balcony.

I’ve never been one for making New Year’s resolutions. Diane usually makes a few. I always laugh because some of hers must be continued from previous years … I guess because one year wasn’t long enough to cement the change, or the change was really a big one!

This year was no different for me. When asked on New Year’s Eve if I were making any, I quickly said “Nope”.

But then today, in my devotional, I was smacked in the face with:

1 Thessalonians 5:14-22.

It was almost as though Paul made a list of areas in which I need real improvement. In fact, just last night, Diane very graciously reminded me that I need improvement in some of these very things…like #3….and, uh…ok…maybe #4.

So, here’s the list extracted from these verses as recorded in The Common English Bible.

1. Comfort the discouraged.

2. Help the weak.

3. Be patient with everyone.

4. Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each other and everyone else.

5. Rejoice always.

6. Pray continually.

7. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

8. Don’t suppress the Spirit. Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good.

9. Avoid every kind of evil.

I really didn’t want to make any resolutions…so…thanks a lot, Paul.

I’m pretty sure I can’t live up to all of these (actually 100% sure) so, my resolution is to read this list and make all these admonitions from Paul points of my daily prayer.

Made any New Year’s resolutions? Care to use Paul’s list?

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