Jump Start # 1508

Psalms 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

  The new year has begun. Holidays are over and we are back to work and back to school again. Back to our routines. Back to normal. And that’s just the problem. We tend to settle back into the norm and what happens is that we change calendars, we become a year older and not much else changes. Everything pretty much stays the same. There is a comfort to that but it’s good to be challenged and moved to a better us. This is why folks make resolutions. They don’t want the same as before. They are looking for something better, something different. Most of us know that resolutions are generally scrapped by February.

Our verse today reminds us that each day is a blessing from the Lord. The Lord’s patience allows us yet one more day. Some day we won’t have any more. As this new year begins, fresh and bright, we know that there will be babies born. Some will be getting married this year. Some will graduate. One of my kids is becoming a home owner for the first time. Some will be off to college for the first time. Some will be finishing school. We also know that this new year will bring some tears. There will be some funerals. There always are. There will be some heartache. That happens each year. The calendars change, but do we?

This year, I would like to encourage our readers to push themselves to be a better you this year. Here are just a few suggestions and a few ways that this can be done. Once you’ve read my list, you can think of more to add and make the list work for you.

1. Worship better. For some, it may be simply getting to the church house on a regular basis. That’s a habit you can get into. Some of us have that down, but we still may not be worshipping God with excellence. Better singing. Better application. Better connecting. Better fellowship. Move from just going to church services to actually worshipping God. That’s a great start. That’s one that will affect you weekly.

2. Try to memorize one verse of the Bible each week. Write out the verse you want to know on a 3 x 5 card and carry it with you everywhere. Put that verse on your phone. Read it. Repeat it. Over and over and over. One verse—each week. By the end of the year, you will know 52 verses by heart. That’s amazing! That will help you. Try it.

3. Have one family in your home each month. Don’t pick the same people. Don’t pick just your friends. The new people at church. The widow. Maybe your neighbor. Maybe a co-worker. Clean the house. Cook up some food. Share lives. Laugh. Connect. Build relationships. One family—each month. That’s 12 families by the end of the year. That’s not hard thing to do. You’ll be so glad that you did this by the end of the year.

4. Read some quality books. Of course, the Bible is on the top of the list. But make a list. I have. I know what I’m going to read in January and February. Stick to it and finish those books. Books that will help you. Books that will build faith. Books that are encouraging. Some of us aren’t much into reading. There are two things to say about that. First, there are audio books that you can download. Second, turn the TV off, and read one chapter a day. You’ll finish that book off in no time.

5. Pray more and pray deeper. Think about how the Lord has blessed you. Look at what you have. Not your stuff, but your family, your friends, your church. Thank the Lord more. Pray about other people more. More prayer is good for us. It reminds us that we need Him. It reminds us that we can’t do it on our own. It reminds us that He cares for us.

That’s my list. It’s not huge. It’s not very deep. Simple things. Good things. Things that will develop spiritual habits. Things that can lead us to be a better us. Give it a try. Don’t quit after just a week. Stay with it. Put some effort into it. A better you takes time.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Rejoice.

Roger