Pastor Hammond | February 2012

How are you doing with those New Years resolution? According to a recent poll, 2/3 of American don't make any New Years resolutions at all! Many of us have discovered that, in our own strength, most resolutions are just too hard to keep. We generally fail in our resolutions when we come to end of our own resolve. So, we often decide not to resolve to make any necessary changes!

There's a better way. This year, why not ask the LORD to strengthen you with His might (Eph 3:16) to grow in obedience to Him. Here's seven critical areas where Christians should resolve, in the Lord's strength, to grow -- starting right now:

Ask the LORD to help you grow in your walk with Christ this year. Ask Him to show you specific sins that should be forsaken this year;
Ask the LORD to help you read through the King James Bible in 2012. The entire Bible may be read in one year by reading as few as 85 verses daily (or just 40-50 verses twice a day). How many pages is that? Divide the number of pages in your Bible by 366 to determine how many pages need to be read daily in order to read through your Bible this year.
Ask the LORD to help you spend significant time in prayer at least twice each day. On average, Americans spend several hours daily on leisure activities - including more than 2 hours of daily television watching. We have time for prayer! Please consider praying for church members and lost friends and family members every day this year.
Ask the LORD to help you commit to attending all of our church services every week - including the Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening meetings. What's more important than worship? "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching," (Hebrews 10:25).
Ask the LORD to show you how He would like you to serve Him through your church this year. And ask Him to help you be faithful to that area;
Ask the LORD to help you be faithful to give a true tithe to your church this year. Also pray about your giving to both our Deacons and missionary funds. Learn more about tithing;
Ask the LORD to help you be faithful to regularly share the gospel. Make it a priority to learn to share the gospel. "...and be ready always to give ananswer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear," (1 Peter 3:15).

Why not take a moment to pray through the above list right now? Remember: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!" (Phil. 4:13).