Entering 2008
(This is basically a rewritten version of a post from a few days ago. Only this is a lot clearer, since it wasn't written at 1:00 AM.)
Every year millions of people make New Years Resolutions. Every year, those resolutions are long forgotten by Independence Day, if not Memorial Day or sooner. Well aware of that, the last year or two, I just decided I wasn't going to make any resolutions. I was getting tired of making lists that didn't mean anything. What was the point in the wasting paper?
Well, this year I have decided to make a few resolutions, but I'm approaching it in a little bit of a different way. Rather than making a list of brand new things I want to do, projects I want to start or habits I want to make or break, I'm focusing on real ways that I can actually grow this year in every major aspect of my life. Another major difference from years past, rather than resolving to do new things, I'm resolving to continue doing what I'm doing right now. And to do those things better!
Item number uno.
The first thing I'm going to work on this year, is my relationship with Christ. Rather than simply reading my Bible on occasion, I am going to read it as God's written word to me, Jake. I plan to read through the entire Bible in at least the New King James Version, and possibly The Message as well.
I am also going to continue growing my prayer life. Prayer shouldn't just be something that happens when something goes wrong, at the dinner table or at night. That's not a prayer life at all! This year, I will continue to make a habit of talking to God all throughout my day, and not only talking, but making myself open to hearing what He has to say to me.
Item number dos.
This next item for 2008 is something that God has really convicted me on over the past few weeks. I haven't spent a lot of time reading anything other than news or technical articles the past two years, and that is, well, not a good thing. This year, along with reading my Bible every day, I'm also going to read through a lot of really good books. With the help of some friends, I'm putting together a book list for 2008, and as I work my way through them, I'll occasionally write my thought on them here.
Item number tres.
My last major resolution for 2008 is to get myself in shape. I've already started this by doing some basic stretches, sit-ups and push-ups every night, but as the weather gets better, I plan on going jogging every morning, adding weights and pulling cars with my beard.
Well, okay, not that last one, but I do plan on making exercise a regular part of my life. Besides the fact that every guy wants a six-pack, I've realized recently that with everything I want to do, I'm going to need to be in great physical shape to even keep up with this kind of busy life! Anyway, our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, right? I should definitely take care of it!
It's all about discipline.
There you have it, my "Resolutions for 2008." Nothing ground breaking here, really I have a list of things that I should be doing anyway. The only other thing that I am going to resolve this year is nearly an unspoken part of all three of the above items -- get disciplined! It's going to take some serious self-control to stick with these commitments all year, and for the rest of my life! It won't be easy, it won't always be fun, but life isn't all about fun and easy. Do Hard Things, right?
Discussion questions
Every year millions of people make New Years Resolutions. Every year, those resolutions are long forgotten by Independence Day, if not Memorial Day or sooner. Well aware of that, the last year or two, I just decided I wasn't going to make any resolutions. I was getting tired of making lists that didn't mean anything. What was the point in the wasting paper?
Well, this year I have decided to make a few resolutions, but I'm approaching it in a little bit of a different way. Rather than making a list of brand new things I want to do, projects I want to start or habits I want to make or break, I'm focusing on real ways that I can actually grow this year in every major aspect of my life. Another major difference from years past, rather than resolving to do new things, I'm resolving to continue doing what I'm doing right now. And to do those things better!
Item number uno.
The first thing I'm going to work on this year, is my relationship with Christ. Rather than simply reading my Bible on occasion, I am going to read it as God's written word to me, Jake. I plan to read through the entire Bible in at least the New King James Version, and possibly The Message as well.
I am also going to continue growing my prayer life. Prayer shouldn't just be something that happens when something goes wrong, at the dinner table or at night. That's not a prayer life at all! This year, I will continue to make a habit of talking to God all throughout my day, and not only talking, but making myself open to hearing what He has to say to me.
Item number dos.
This next item for 2008 is something that God has really convicted me on over the past few weeks. I haven't spent a lot of time reading anything other than news or technical articles the past two years, and that is, well, not a good thing. This year, along with reading my Bible every day, I'm also going to read through a lot of really good books. With the help of some friends, I'm putting together a book list for 2008, and as I work my way through them, I'll occasionally write my thought on them here.
Item number tres.
My last major resolution for 2008 is to get myself in shape. I've already started this by doing some basic stretches, sit-ups and push-ups every night, but as the weather gets better, I plan on going jogging every morning, adding weights and pulling cars with my beard.
Well, okay, not that last one, but I do plan on making exercise a regular part of my life. Besides the fact that every guy wants a six-pack, I've realized recently that with everything I want to do, I'm going to need to be in great physical shape to even keep up with this kind of busy life! Anyway, our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, right? I should definitely take care of it!
It's all about discipline.
There you have it, my "Resolutions for 2008." Nothing ground breaking here, really I have a list of things that I should be doing anyway. The only other thing that I am going to resolve this year is nearly an unspoken part of all three of the above items -- get disciplined! It's going to take some serious self-control to stick with these commitments all year, and for the rest of my life! It won't be easy, it won't always be fun, but life isn't all about fun and easy. Do Hard Things, right?
Discussion questions
- Are you making any resolutions this year? Why or why not?
- What are you going to do different in 2008?
- What are you doing to make sure you stick with your resolutions? Writing it down, keeping yourself accountable, something else?
posted by Jake A. Smith at
6:42 AM
2 Comments:
For me shifting my mindset to prepare for 2008 has been what I've been focusing on the last week or two. I plan on setting some kind of goals/predictions (what I hope to accomplish) for this next year. I must admit I haven't quite gotten to writing it all out yet.
On another note, I couldn't resist recommending another book. :) I read Phil Vischer's book Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story about Dreams, God and Talking Vegetables this past year. I found it to be a really good read. It was entertaining, but spiritually edifying as well (I got a lot out of some of things he shared). You may want to check it out!
Thanks for the recommendation, Stephanie! I'm pretty sure I've only seen every Veggie movie ever made about 20 times, so I think I will enjoy this one! :)
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