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Well it is that time of year again, time for New Years resolutions. Every year many Americans, and others around the world, sit down and make a list, at least mentally, of one, two, or several more things they are going to change or accomplish in their lives in the next year. Most of them are forgotten, lost, or broken by the time mid February comes around. Some do not even make it until mid January with their New Years to do list before it is shattered.

Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with making changes. We all need to change or improve things about ourselves. We may need to develop new habits, loose some bad habits, become more consistent in some areas, and less involved in other areas or activities. Change and growth is constant in people, or least it is in the ones that are trying to improve themselves. Those people, the ones that are trying to improve themselves are how this note is for.

The concept of constantly working to improve and get better is especially true with Christians. Of course we all know that we are not saved by works, but by grace, but still part of being a Christian is learning to subdue and change our lives and body into better models of what Christ has for us. A true Christian is always trying to develop a better walk with God. To do that means learning more about God, and His will for their lives. In the process of building a better walk, and learning more about God and His will for them, God shows a Christian things they need to change. Sometimes it is changing their life focus or direction. Sometimes it is showing them habits they need to develop, or destroy, in their lives. Sometimes it is showing them areas of their lives they need to strengthen. Sometimes it is God showing them things they need to learn or add to their lives as well. .

Many times, part of the changes that God calls us to make are related to human relationships. We all have relationships with others that we need strengthen, or at least work on maintaining. Maybe it is the relationship with our spouse, or our parents, or our children, or our co-workers, or our neighbors, or our fellow church members, or even our friends. We all have relationships that we need to build up and ones that also need to be built deeper. In the same regard, there are relationships that we need to either get out of or reduce our role in. Maybe these are improper relationships with others, or relationships that take more from us then they should. God may be calling us to end them, and never return to them, or spend less time maintaining them because their time of influence in our life is waning. The thing to remember is that God has plan in all of these things.

It is vital for Christians to remember that God does not change. God does not need to make resolutions. God does not have a list of items He is going to work on improving. God knows exactly what is happening in your life, in the lives of others, and His world. God knows what the future holds because He planned and controls it all. The things that come against God, His people, and His world are the same today as they were in the past. God has dealt with every issue that you have in your life today before. He is more then able and capable of guiding you through the maze that you call a life. The exact point about there being nothing new in the world is made in Ecclesiastes 1 verses 9 thru 14 -

(Ecclesiastes 1:9-14 NIV) 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. 11 There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. 12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Clearly there is nothing new in this world. Nothing ever “occurs” to God. God already knows what, who, when and where to everything and everyone. In addition, the scripture above specially tells us that the things of this world, and it’s concerns, will come to nothing. The scriptures go on to tell us that in generally our acts, activities and lives will not be remembered by others in the future.

Our days on earth are short and the majority of the things we spend time really are unimportant. The only things that really have impact long term are the things that we do for and with God. With those things understood, Christians must realize a few things about the new year and it’s resolutions.

First, resolutions do not have to wait until January 1st, nor do they have to wait until next January 1st after this one is past. Today is, and always will be, the best time to make a change for the better in your life. January 1st is just arbitrary date. It holds no really significance, it is simply a mental point of change. Secondly, changes that are not related to improving your walk and relationship with God really are not that important to begin with. Now understand those changes may be related to work, your body, your relationships, and your future, but if the changes are not from God they will not succeed. The only things in your life that will have a impact on the future are the things you do with God. In twenty years you weight lose, or gain, will have no real impact on the world. People will not care how much money you made, where you lived, or what you drove if they do not have respect for you as a person. For a Christian to be respected they have to live in the ways and habits of God, because if they do not they are being hypocrites.

So, this new year do not worry about making a list of resolutions that you do not plan to keep or that are really unimportant. Make this year different, be sure your resolutions are God inspired. If God is leading you to make changes do not wait until New Years, or even tomorrow, change today. If you change how God leads you will be blessed. Do not let another year, or day, go by living a life full of worldly influences and pulls. Start living today for the future God is calling you too.