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Seeking Things Above


If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Col 3:1)

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2008-12-29

Scripture Thursday - New Year’s Resolution

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1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (ESV)
26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

New Year’s resolutions…I make them each year, always with good intentions.  Sometimes I do well and keep some of them, usually by March I am back doing what I resolved not to do in January.

One of my regular resolutions is to do a better job exercising.  I like exercising actually.  The problem is finding the time to do it right.  If I’m just jogging for 20 minutes on the treadmill I don’t feel like I’m doing enough, so I often don’t bother at all.  It doesn’t make much sense, I know.

One of my other resolutions I make each year is to improve my spiritual walk with God.  I want to read my Bible more faithfully.  I want to pray more fervently.  However, I run into the same problems I run into with exercising.  If I don’t feel like I am doing it right, I often don’t do it at all.

If my prayers feel like they’re going nowhere or there’s no connection with God, I end up putting prayer off until I lay in bed at night and then fall asleep shortly after, “Father, …”.

If my Bible reading is not stirring my heart and the words don’t jump out at me, I find something else to do (like sleep or email or anything else).

The problem with the way I treat these resolutions is that I am only allowing myself a pass\fail grade.  Exercising, physical and spiritual, is a discipline.  Disciplines take hard work.  Disciplines are often not fun (although sometimes you can be in the “zone”).  However, the discipline is a means to an end, not the end itself.

My attitude about exercising needs to be to do it for my health.  The reward is a longer life with my family and hopefully someday grand kids.

My attitude about prayer and reading my Bible needs to be about my spiritual health.  The reward is a closer relationship to the Creator and King of the universe.

This year, I resolve to live heather, so I have the opportunity (God willing) to live longer and enjoy my family longer in this lifetime.  However, most importantly, I resolve to get to know my Creator and King more intimately.


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