New Year - New Habits
by Pastor Mike Mercurio
If you look up a list of typical or most frequent New Year’s resolutions in America, you will always find two things that show up: Eat Healthier and Get More Exercise. No doubt, the reason is because these two things tend to slip outside our range of preferred behaviors.
Some people have given up on resolutions because they always come and they always go. And yet on the other hand, there is nothing better than a fresh start. So, what would make this year different?
As Christians, we have an extra resource. We have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit living within us. And there are some very practical disciplines that can help us stay focused on what God has already given.
The first is reading God’s word. The Psalmist summed it up well - Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Speaking of Jesus, John 1:4 says, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
Six Week Challenge #1
Read through the life and ministry of Jesus
- His Birth ... and the early years
- His Baptism ... and the start of the ministry
- His Identity ... and the heart of the mission
- His Transfiguration ... and the beginning of the end
- His Death ... and the events that led up to it
- His Resurrection ... and many convincing proofs
The second practical discipline is gathering with other believers at church. Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” Church is not just a service to attend, but a place to give and receive encouragement in the name of the Lord.
Six Week Challenge #2
Attend church without missing a service from Jan.4 - Feb. 8.
This coincides with the 40 Days of Prayer Campaign
- January 4 - Our Savior
- January 11 - Our Sanctifier
- January 18 - Our Healer
- January 25 - Our Coming King
- February 1 - His Mission
- February 8 - His Church
Why Six Weeks?
As we have already discussed, resolutions come and go. Before taking on the entire year, just start with some smaller goals. Be successful for six weeks and then take on more later with the wind behind your back!