Christian Resolutions for the Year 2010

It is a new day; we have begun the year 2010. New Year’s Eve has always been a time for reviewing our past and making some changes for the future. Let’s pause for a
minute and reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those promises and changes. And as you make your top seven New Year’s Christian resolutions, think about this:

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
– Thomas A Edison

Most New Year’s resolutions demand commitment, hard work, discipline and faith.

Focus more on Christian Spirituality. For us Christians, spirituality is about relationships. A personal relationship with God, with others and with self. With in those relationships we try to find ways of relating to nature and the environment. Christian spirituality is trying to see God in everything around us, to create peaceful communities and welcoming atmosphere. Spirituality means being kind and enthusiastic, being gentle to yourself, to others and to the Mother earth.

Heart Fitness. According to some research, people who go to church or attend religious services live longer, are healthier and are more happy people. The scripture states: “Out of the abundance of the heart your mouth speaks.” In the year 2010 let’s take care or our hearts. Let’s do some spiritual exercises that help our hearts to stay strong, like praying more often, going to church more often, being in silence more often, meditating more often, give a good massage to your heart by being compassionate and smiling more often.

Grow and Mature. Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. According to church studies only 10 percent of church membership is fully committed to grow and mature in their Christian life and in supporting of church ministries and programs. How do we grow and mature in our Christian life? Make plans to grow and stay focused. Plan to be part of that vacation bible school, spiritual retreat, committee, mission trip and stay focused. Be responsible, reach the goal, go to the end, and give good fruit. Some one said “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do”.

Quit something that is bad for you. Even if you have tried to quit a bad habit before and failed, don’t let it get you down. The average person tried at least four times and failed (especially smokers).

The good news is that there is a lot of help out there if we want to quit bad habits. You are not alone; God is at our side to help us and to give us the strength to start a new life, because today is the first day of your new life.

Enjoy life more. We live stressful lives, we have hectic schedules. So as our New Year’s Christian resolution let’s promise ourselves that we will “enjoy life more”. Take up new hobbies, try something new, teach a Bible class, or help someone read the Bible. Go to a theater performance or create one and perform before the congregation. Take a leap of faith. Travel to a holy place. Take a trip to the Holy Land.

Learn something new about Christianity. There is so much we don’t know about church, Christ, and Christianity overall. Buy a church history book, read about the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the church. Learn about Saint Augustine, Teresa of Avila, Thomas Campbell or the Disciples in Australia.

Help Others. New Year’s resolutions are about ourselves, we need at least one non-selfish New Year resolution. Volunteerism can take many forms. The church is a volunteer organization. We are committed to be servants to others and to do it with love and care.

As you begin this year of 2010 make your spiritual life a priority, for it is written: “Search first the kingdom of God, and the rest will come to you.”

Have a Blessed 2010.

Your Pastor,
Job J Cobos