2018 is upon us, and we yet again begin the 365-day journey through the year. I personally think the turn of the year comes with the danger of a superficial hope. Many of us have been duped into thinking that after midnight December 31st, you magically take on a new lease of life and whatever struggles and problems you faced at 11:30pm are gone at 1am. Now we all know that is not how life works and any thinking that promotes such thinking abandons all sense and reason. A new year, like a new day, offers us an opportunity to take stock of how we are living life and whether or not we are making the most of the breath God has given us. It gives us the chance to look back and evaluate, but also to look ahead with hope by planning. Planning is the operative word here. Making resolutions is good, but resolutions are good for nothing if they are not planned and executed. So my encouragement as you begin the year is make few, realistic resolutions with clear practical steps on how you will achieve them. Allow me to suggest four areas you can work on this year.
Prioritise your relationship with God
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength (Duet. 6:4). Whatever you do seek to cultivate a health relationship with God and grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18). That means you must be disciplined and intentional about cultivating a godly life. Godliness does not come accidently; one has to work hard to be godly. Exercise yourself towards godliness (1 Tim. 4:6-8) through spiritual disciplines. Read, study, meditate and apply the words of Scripture in your life. And then let the Scriptures inform your praying. And you may add reading good, solid Christian books as a supplement to your Bible reading. If you do not know good books, ask brethren who know to recommend some. Studying the word and praying takes time and great effort, and you will struggle if not fail at times but soldier on, the same suffering has been experienced by the saints throughout time!
Be a healthy church member
The Lord has placed you in a church for a purpose. The body of Christ is there for your edification. Do not let your pride mislead you into thinking you do not need the believers in your church. You are no wiser than God so be thankful for the church He has placed you in and be a healthy church member. That means being committed to church meetings and participating whole heartedly. It also means building others up by serving them, loving them, praying for them and keeping them accountable. It further means submitting and supporting the leaders God has placed over the church. Lastly, it also means being faithful, generous and sacrificial in giving financially as the Lord blesses you.
Be committed to your family
A person’s Christianity is primarily seen in the context of the home. It is easy to pretend at church meetings and put up a face. But in the home with your spouse, children, parents and siblings a person’s true colors manifest. The family is also the best opportunity for ministry to show case transformed lives to the watching world. There is just something about a godly family that serves the Lord together. In the busyness of life and the pursuit to earn the next Kwacha, the family is the first to be neglected and before long distance and division are inevitable. You begin to live like guests in a lodge and not as a family. Whatever you do this year cultivate healthy relationships with the family: eat together, play together, pray together, read together, serve God together, go out together etc.
Do everything with all your might
Do not waste time doing things half-heartedly. Whatever you are going to engage in this year put your foot to the peddle and go all in! That obviously means you need to be sure before you jump into something. Plan well and once you decide to do it, do it with all your might. Do not be like those drivers who come to overtake the car in front of them and only start deciding if they can make it after they have pulled out. Evaluate first, then step out. Have a clear purpose why you exist, and live your life fully. Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord (Col. 3:23). If you work, do it with your all to the best of your ability with a joyful heart. If you are a student, apply yourself to those studies so you can acquire knowledge to better perform a skill and not just cram for an exam.
Life is short, do not waste time on things that do not count for eternity. Do not waste your life living in sin or pursuing the temporal. Neither should you waste it going through life half-heartedly. Grow in your walk with the Lord; be a health church member; prioritise the family, and do everything with all your might. May God bless you and keep you in 2018.
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