What are your spiritual resolutions?

          Many among us have seized the beginning of a New Year by making various resolutions. I, for one, know that the weeks leading up to Christmas saw an unprecedented increase in my desire to consume sweets, so I am looking toward a resolution to live a more healthy, balanced life by eating less and exercising more. (I may regret the day I put this in ink.)

           I wonder how many people of faith will look upon the New Year as an opportunity to reflect upon their spiritual health and well being? Just take some time to consider in what ways a resolution might improve your effectiveness as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

                         photo by Paul Romjue

          I remember a moment in my ministry years ago when I realized in a worship service that in less than three or four minutes I was unexpectedly going to be leading a “Time for Young Disciples” (a children’s message) with our children. This was supposed to have been removed from the service that day due to a special music program.
          Before I had the time to even consider what I might share with our children, a “saint” in our church passed me a note asking if I would like her to lead the children's message. Certainly not wanting to quell the movement of the spirit, I gladly accepted her offer. (Whew!)
          The fact that she stepped forward to do a message was not as impressive to me as the quality and spirit of her message. She rose, as I had witnessed her do many times over the years, and as she spoke, the Word of God settled not only upon the children at her feet but also upon the congregation (the older children of God) who remained in their pews.
           I thought to myself, it should be no surprise that the Spirit would flow so freely through this humble servant. Her life was a perfect example of a life enriched and empowered through devotion to God, the study of scripture and the discipline of prayer.
          My resolution at that very moment of worship was to rejuvenate my own life of devotion. I wanted to grow stronger in God's Word through the study of scripture and the discipline of prayer so that I, too, might let the Spirit of God flow through me as a powerful witness to Jesus Christ.
           What are your New Year's resolutions? If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, I hope all your goals for the New Year reflect a deep desire to grow in spirit and truth and the witness of hope which is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord.

 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  
                (Romans 15:13)

Conrad