'An Independent Baptist Church'

"These Things I Resolve To Do..."

Luke 16:4 "I am resolved what to do..."

List of top 10 New Year's Resolutions
Every year this list includes things such as

Being a better person

Losing Weight

Exercise more

visit relatives more

stop smoking or drinking

improve at business

etc...etc....

Bible Example - Jacob

Jacob was someone in the Bible who determined..or resolved...to improve some things in his life...

Genesis 35:1-4

"And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
2  Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
3  And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went."


This inspired me to take a personal inventory of my life and try to improve some things....would you do the same?

My personal Resolutions for 2004

1. I Resolve to Forget my mistakes and failures of the past year.......

The Devil will try to keep bringing them up & discourage me

We have all made mistakes....said things we shouldn't have said....done things we shouldn't have done....
Now let's make it right if we have to....but then let's not dwell on it....

Phil 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

2. I Resolve to overlook the failures of others and not let there failure hinder my walk with the Lord.

People will fail you....Some people you considered your friends will do you wrong.....
Some people you respected will downright shock you with their hypocrisy to the point of even causing you to be disillusioned.

We cannot let other peoples' failures and hypocrisy to hinder our walk with the Lord!

3. I resolve to examine my heart carefully to make sure there is no bitterness or unforgiveness in my heart when others wrong me.

Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.5
5:1  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,

Hebrews 12:14 "14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"

With Unforgiveness and Bitterness in my heart....

I can not be at fellowship with my Lord
I can not be happy and have peace in my heart
God cannot effectively use me to help others
What a poor testimony it is to others..
Bitterness not only affects me....it affects others around me...



4. I Resolve to Worry Less.....and Trust God more

Phil 4:6-7 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

  Worry doesn't do any good.....
  It doesn't accomplish anything....
  It grieves My Heavenly Father....
  It actually does harm to me ....
  It does harm for others around me to see me worry...
God has not failed me in the past....He is not going to start failing me now.

5.  I resolve to take time to appreciate the Blessings God has given me.....and to thank Him for them every day.

Psalms 100:4,5 "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.


Don't concentrate on the negative.....Yes trials will come, People will turn their back on you, ......
We must look at the good things God has provided...

6. I resolve to be careful to show appreciation to people who God has sent my way to be a blessing to me.

Proverbs 20:6 "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?


7. I resolve to pray with each of my children every day.

1 Samuel 1:27,28 "For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28  Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.

8. I Resolve to be a Better example of a Christian in the Coming Year....

Better Spouse
Better Student
Better Teacher
Better Singer
Better Worker
Better Preacher

9. I Resolve to take better care of my body and my health.

1 Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

Let's take better care of our bodies!  Let's eat right, Get plenty of rest and sleep; let's exercise properly, and take time away from stress...

We are not doing our bodies....or anybody else...a favor...if we burn this old body out before 60....

Let's stay healthy so we can serve the Lord for many years!



My friend, Admit Shortcomings....Resolve with God's Help to do better....