Here we are. We have arrived at the third week in January. In some circles this is referred to as the “magic week” in January. Why is it magical, you ask?? Because many of the people who started out the year working out at the gym or the health club have suddenly disappeared. You see, for a large percentage of the people who make New Years Resolutions, they keep them, or they last until about week three in January, and then they are abandoned.
I really don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. I sometimes will set goals I want to achieve (I know, same thing) but I use the Michael Hyatt process for annual goal setting. I have to admit that this year I haven’t finalized my annual goals, but one of my “intentions” for the new year (I hadn’t put it in the form of a goal) was to cut out some of the sweets that crowded into my eating habits in the last two months of 2021. In my mind I had decided that I was going to eat a piece of fruit when I got the munchies. However, when the munchies hit, I’d look on the kitchen counter, or open the door to the freezer, and low and behold there was a container of Christmas cookies or goodies that really needed to be finished off before freezer burn or staleness sets in. So, what’s a guy to do? I certainly want to be a good steward of the Christmas goodies in my care…so I eat them. I don’t think my goal of eating more fruit even made it to week three.
I’ve read numerous books on goal setting and there are all sorts of reasons why people, myself included, fail at achieving goals; It wasn’t written down, it wasn’t specific enough, there wasn’t an accountability partner or process assigned, there wasn’t a proper reward established, it wasn’t a “SMARTER” goal, it wasn’t personal or important enough, it wasn’t regularly reviewed, there weren’t pre-determined steps put in place to make the goal easy to achieve, etc., etc. There’s probably truth in all of those reasons. But the fact is, I’ve dropped the ball (or apple) so to speak on this goal.
The Apostle Paul has his own inner struggle that he admits to. In Roman’s 7:19, Paul says, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” Admittedly, Paul isn’t speaking of New Year’s Resolutions, he’s speaking of sin and his desire to follow God. He wants to be faithful in living in the ways of God, but he also recognizes he stumbles, fails, and falls short. So, what does Paul do? He recognizes the tension in his mind and heart, he removes the power of sin in his life by replacing it with the power of the Spirit within him, and he gives thanks to God who helps him achieve the victory in his life. Then he repeats this process over and over and over again.
Yes, I believe Paul’s life is a reflection of the Sound Bites sermon series we are in the midst of at our church this January. However, Paul is also a great example of seeing how one can overcome the tension and struggle in our lives and move forward in a positive direction and in the ways of God. I believe Paul would say it isn’t always easy…but it is certainly worth it.
So, I’m going to set a new goal, not just to eat a piece or two of fruit a day, but to establish some healthier life patterns. After all, there’s a lot of life yet to live and God isn’t done with me…or you! How am I…How are you going to grow healthier physically, spiritually, financially, relationally, etc. in the year to come? That is a great question to ask with some potentially great goals to press toward. Let’s keep looking up and moving forward in the new year!
Serving Together,
Pastor Keith