A little something to ponder.......
Each year in the month of January, we have a great tendency to make what we call our “New Year’s Resolution”. I have been pondering this thing for quite some time now and I have come to the conclusion that we are willing to make a change in our lives but we are not willing to make a change in our lifestyles.
Resolution is the noun for “fixed determination”, to have a determination is to have a “firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end”. When I consider that fact, I come to the conclusion that the resolutions that we make at the beginning of the year should be one’s that we are determined to achieve and are willing to use the entire year to accomplish that achievement. My mind goes back to the Apostle Paul, when he wrote in Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus….”
Paul’s goal was to receive his crown of glory which is in heaven and he had determined in his mind that he would change his lifestyle to a way that would assist in his goal accomplishment. Paul stated in the thirteenth verse of this same scripture that he was forgetting those things which are behind him and reaching forth to those things which are before him.
I know we have many different types of “New Years resolutions” but consider if you will, the resolution that would place you in position to make changes not only in your life but that would cause you to make changes in your lifestyle. We all should have goals and achievements that we want to accomplish in the natural and in the spirit and for that reason, let us examine ourselves completely and acquire a fixed determination to ascertain those goals by heeding to the advice of our brother Paul.
Don’t look back at what you could have, should have or would have done, forget about that and use this entire year to reach forth to those things which are before you and Press toward that mark!
May the grace of God encamp you, the mercy of God protect you and the peace of God comfort you always!
Greetings my friend,
ReplyDeleteYour request was that I elaborate on the difference I was making between life and lifestyle.
Life (acquired from Dictionary.com)
The general or universal condition of human existence.
Lifestyle (acquired from Dictionary.com)
The habits, attitudes, tastes, moral standards, economic level, etc., that together constitute the mode of living of an individual or group.
With this in mind, I often see how we will make changes in our life (our human existence) such as you may move from one area of the city to another area but that does not change your lifestyle (habits; attitudes; moral standards) but when you decide to become more spiritual minded instead of carnal minded that will cause you to change your lifestyle. When you make a change in your lifestyle, you change how you think, how you act or react to a situation or your views on certain things.
When I decided that I wanted to become a healthier me, I made changes to my lifestyle that would produce the desired end that I was looking for. How I viewed eating became much different than it was when I was not interested in being healthy. I was not concerned about if the foods I ate where healthy or not but now that I have changed that view, I pay more attention to the type of food that I eat and whether or not I get the correct servings of fruit and vegetables each day.
It is almost the same when we choose to have a relationship with Christ. Before I was Christ minded, I did not consider the will of God in my decisions. It was about what I wanted and that was all. But now, I seek Godly counsel in everything that I do. Before I embark upon something new, I want to know if it is the will of God for me to do that. My mind goes to I Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” Although there is nothing physically keeping me from doing things outside of the will of God, because I have a relationship with Him, I choose to live a lifestyle that would be pleasing to Him.
It is my hearts desire that this has helped you and please come and visit again and again.
Grace and Peace be unto you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Mel’Lisa