I. Many people begin the new year with a resolve to make improvements in their lives. Some want to be healthier, some want to be wealthier, and most simply want to be better. Christians should begin every day and every year with a desire to be more like Christ and less like the world. As we approach this new year, we must make God the priority in our planning. All things must be centered with God or it will come to nothing.
II. Ephesians 5:15-16 – “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
A. We should live lives with purpose and on purpose.
- We will not accidentally develop stronger Bible knowledge and faith and be fruitful in our service to God. Every little insignificant thing in this world and tendency within us conspires against it.
B. Priority
- We have to establish the priority in our lives and determine to give our best effort, time, and money in supporting it.
- Priority means that which takes precedence over other things.
- It is often said that the plural of priority, priorities, is a modern concept.
- Priorities, is an oxymoron: If we have many priorities, then we have no priority.
- If our highest priority is to be like Christ in holiness and service then every other important role or responsibility I have in life will be aligned with that priority.
The type of work I seek, how I do my job, and the impact of my job on my spiritual life will be filtered through the priority: how does this make me like Christ and allow me to accomplish His work on this earth?
My entertainment choices, pastimes, hobbies, and other uses of my time, money, and energy will be compared against my priority:
Does this use of my time help me to be holy or does it pollute my mind?
Does this activity refresh me so I can be useful in God’s service or does it take all of my time, money, and energy so that I neglect God’s word and work?
My friends, close companions, and choice of a spouse will reflect my priority and I will not put people into my inner circle that would thwart holiness and godly service.
Every choice in life from where to live to what I wear will align with a desire to be like Christ in holiness and service.
- If we aren’t living purposefully and consciously, we will not manage our time, money, and energy and things of little value will fill our lives.
C. We must establish what is important and plan around it. When we take driving trips, we get out maps to determine what roads we must take to reach our destination.
- Our goals must be specific (not “I want to learn more about the Bible” but “I want to be able to show from the Bible how a person can become a Christian.”).
- Legendary Alabama Coach Bear Bryant used to carry around a paper with a prayer called “A New Day” to remind him to use every moment wisely:
III. “This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving something in its place I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss — good, not evil. Success, not failure in order that I shall not forget the price I paid for it.”
- Our priorities (God, family, etc.) cannot be just lofty principles but must be the cornerstones by which we build our plans.
- “You will never find the time, you must make time.”
- Make realistic, specific goals about what you want to attain next year then define sub-goals to reach your main goals.
- Then determine what must be done each week to meet your goals. Determine what needs to be given up to attain your goals.
- Most importantly, ask God for help if you are trying to be like Christ and focus on His work.
A. Focus on who you want to be, not specific tasks.
- Some people say they want to lose weight, exercise 30 minutes per day, or eat more nutritious meals. Those things are important but if we envision being a healthy person with energy, good lab test results, and feeling well, the habits (food choices and exercise) are easier because we are not punishing ourselves but crafting the result we want.
- When we envision what we want to be like as a Christian, it will be easier to focus more time on study, prayer, worship, and service because they lead to the results we want.