- Pastor Troy Brewer
- OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TX
NEW YEARS RESOLUTION
How and when did it start? It started with the
ancient Babylonians over 4000 ago making promises to their pagan gods
that they would do better in the year to come, from there it went to the
Romans who also made pledges to their pagan gods to do better and be
better, from there it went to the Christians In 1740, the English clergyman
John Wesley, founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal
Service, most commonly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Also
known as known as watch night services, they included readings from
Scriptures and hymn singing, and served as a spiritual alternative to the
raucous celebrations normally held to celebrate the coming of the new
year. Now popular within evangelical Protestant churches, especially
African American denominations and congregations, watch night services
held on New Year’s Eve are often spent praying and making resolutions for
the coming year.
And it has come to what it is in our present state which is we make
pledges to ourselves to do better, make better choices ect.
The problem with this is there is no accountability to encourage us to
follow through with the commitments that we are making.
Statistics say that only 8% of people who make the commitment follow
through with it.
Lets talk about some of the most popular resolutions.
Most of us would agree with the popular polls that say the top 3 are these
1. healthier\ loose weight
2. Improve finances
3. Mental health
Lets find the right motives to accomplish and follow
through with what it is the Lord is putting on our
hearts to do this year.
First we must recognize the voice of the Lord and we
must ask Him, what does He want from us this year?
If it is to loose weight and get healthy then lets find some
scriptures to back it up and lead us through this walk.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost 1 Corinthians
6:19
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all
for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
That each of them may eat and drink, and find
satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. –
Ecclesiastes 3:13
. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to
man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted
beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also
provide the way of escape, that you may be able to
endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
2. Giving
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.
For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back
to you.”
Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out
demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
. It is God who gives you the ability to produce wealth
(Deuteronomy 8:18)
“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the
ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he
swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
14. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one
must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able
to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all
sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every
good deed;”
3. Mental health
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of
love, and of a sound mind.
— 2 Timothy 1:7
Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.
1 Peter 1:13 – Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be
brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that
feareth is not made perfect in love.