Starting Right

Today, some will awake with a headache from too much celebration last night. Others, have made resolutions that they believe will make them better in 2011. Generally, they involve commitments to lose weight, stop smoking or drinking, and to exercise more. Notice that many resolutions involve the physical body. What about spiritual resolutions? Are you resolved to improve your spiritual side this year? You are composed of two parts: the physical and the spiritual. They are interconnected. This means that they are not two separate parts; there is one you composed of an inner person and a physical body. So, what spiritual resolutions should you make. I have three for you to start with.

First, control your anger. Proverbs 16:32 says: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." (RSV) Learn to control your emotions. If you allow someone to "get under your skin," you are giving that person rule over your life. The one that angers you controls you. On the other hand, if you control your anger, you are controlling the situation. Who would you rather be in control: the one that angers you, or yourself? The answer is obvious.

Second, understand the power of your speech. Proverbs 18:21 says: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." (RSV) Notice that you are going to eat the fruit of your speech. It will either be death or life. That is like choosing between a terminal disease or health. Your tomorrow is going to be based on your speech today. You get to decide which you will have. God says to His people: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live...." (RSV) God has placed before you death and life and it begins with the tongue. Choose wisely.

Third, remove the wrong fear from your life. We can fear many things: failure, other people, and loneliness. Fear can paralyze you and cause you to miss the blessing that could exist. Yesterday, I saw a number of birds searching for food by our home. There was still snow on the ground so I decided to throw some bread out for them to eat. Most of the birds were too afraid to come close enough to the front door to eat. I was trying to help them, but they were too afraid to come forward. Finally, one came close enough to take some bread. Then, others began to inch forward to eat. Sadly, most of the birds were too afraid to get close enough to the house where the bread was. This is our problem sometime; we are too afraid to take a chance. Don't allow fear to rule your life. Instead, trust in God's Word on the subject. I like the quote: "God is who He says He is. I am who God says I am. God can do what He says He can do. I can do what He says I can do. God has what He says He has. I have what God says I have." If that is your confession, you should never be afraid of anything except God because that is the beginning of wisdom.

It is a New Year. Make it a great one.