2022 NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

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A relationship with God is among the three most common subjects of New Year’s resolutions, particularly among younger Americans, according to a new Lifeway Research survey.

The Lifeway Research poll found that 44% of respondents said they’ve made a resolution about their health in the past. Additionally, 29% said they’ve made a resolution about their relationship with God, and another 29% have made a resolution about their finances. 

Those ages 18-34 (35%) and 35-49 (35%) were more likely to make faith the subject of their New Year’s resolutions than those 50-64 (25%) and 65 and older (17%).

Home Bible Study Group

About half (48%) of Christians who attend a worship service at least four times a month said they’ve made a resolution about their relationship with God. By contrast, just 20% of those who attend less than once a month have done so.

Black Americans (41%) are more likely to have made a resolution about God than white Americans (27%), and the religiously unaffiliated were much more likely to have made a resolution about money (36%), time (29%) or work (22%) than about God (14%).

Among all Americans, other popular resolution topics include those about relationships with a family member (26%), use of time (22%), work (18%) and relationships with a friend (15%).

The Lifeway Survey comes on the heels of an earlier study conducted this year by Evangelical pollster George Barna and the Family Research Council, which found that only 6% of Americans have a “biblical worldview.” This statistic is most troubling because we know from the parable of the ten virgins, which is a parable that Jesus told the disciples when they asked him about the “end times” that Jesus prophesied that 50% of Christians are not born again. All ten virgins were waiting for their bridegroom but only half had oil for their lamps and when they returned with oil Jesus told them to go “I do not know you”.

“Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:11

This clearly teaches us that half of the people who call themselves Christians are not born again of the Holy Spirit and will be the church of Laodicea which is left behind to experience the wrath of God poured out with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. Note above that about half (48%) of Christians who attend a worship service at least four times a month said they’ve made a resolution about their relationship with God.

.”And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:14-19

How different from the church of Philadelphia that was raptured and kept from the hour of trial (wrath of God).

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name… Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:7-8,10-11

Can I suggest when thinking about 2022 you adopt David’s approach as given in Psalm 31:14.

“But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hand”

STARTING 2022 WELL

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These three biblical truths are better than a new year resolution because they will change your thinking and make success possible.

God used the prophet Isaiah to encourage the Children of Israel after they lived in exile for many years. The people no longer believed they had a successful future. Negative thinking patterns kept them trapped. The message delivered by the prophet offered a new way forward for the Children of Israel, and it will do the same for you.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” Isaiah 43:18–19

What does God want you to do in 2022

1) Forget the Former Things

“Former things” have the power to keep us stuck if we’re not careful. God wants us to understand that despite our past failures, He still has a plan for our future. The path to achieving our goals starts with the decision to forget the former things. You must believe that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13). If you don’t forget the former things, you may not even try to make a new year resolution.

2) Perceive What God Is Doing

Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, teacher and comforter so we must learn how to perceive where He is taking us, even when it is not working out as planned. You may not see the full manifestation of your purpose right now, but with prayer God will cause circumstances to spring up which shows the way forward. It could be that a door unexpectedly opens. Or perhaps a door closes that you thought would stay open.

It’s not our place to know every detail about the future, but we must perceive the next step in the journey. In some cases, God has already given us instructions and is waiting for us to make the next move. You must know that God is actively working in your life. If you stop dwelling on the past you can perceive the next step forward.

3) Trust That God Will Make a Way

It’s important to trust God to make the way into the unknown places that we can’t handle on our own. If we have a dream that could happen without any assistance from God, then the dream did not come from God. The prospect of walking into our destiny should feel slightly overwhelming, or perhaps even impossible, without help from above. If we limit our future to what we can handle on our own, we will not step into the deeper things that God is doing.

It’s easy to focus on the unknown variables that make us feel unqualified, but that’s why we are in partnership with God. He will make a way in the wilderness where there is no clear path and provide streams in the wasteland when there are no resources. Don’t give your limitations the power to stop you from moving forward with God’s plans.

Do you need help overcoming negative thinking patterns that sabotage success? Then you may need help. Can I suggest you link with Habit Finder. They can teach you how your thinking patterns are impacting your success. You will discover why changing how you think is far better than a new year resolution.