New Years Resolutions!

        Dictionary.com defines resolutions:

a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

        New Year’s Resolutions therefore are a determination to do something. Lose Weight; Stop Smoking; Drinking, Chocolate, Exercise, etc. so we are giving up something or need to start doing something to better our lives or health. We take a look at our lives and see what we can make better or improve for ourselves for the upcoming year. Whatever we decide to give up or do usually requires a lot of discipline.

      
Does this sound like something else as Christians we may or may not do as part of our Christians Lives?  Fasting?

Fasting is defined as

1. To abstain from food.
2. To eat little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.
3. The act or practice of abstaining from or eating very little food.
4. A period of such abstention or self-denial.

          
Fasting to a lot of Christians is giving up food and drink for a period of time, or to many others it is giving up certain food, or activities as a sacrifice to God.

         
When we would prepare for our annual Kids Kamp at Church, our Team would not only pray for the event would be Life Changing for the children, the parents, the volunteers, and of course the staff, but we would also give up something that was important to us for a period of time. I, would personally give up Soda or Bread. One time i did both! WOW! It was tough, but i can tell you that was one of the most awesome Kamps ever! God was all over the place.
       Most of the time we incorporated our fasting along with Lent. Fasting is not just about giving up food or other items, but it is about feeding the spirit through our obedience to God. It is something between you and God. We are asking something of God and showing Him we are serious about it and asking Him to be apart of what we are asking or praying for.

       
Many in the Bible Fasted. Moses, David, and of course, Jesus! They were either thankful for something God did in their lives or asking God for help with something. Fasting is not always easy to do, similar to resolutions. But they don't have to be complicated. 

Earlier i stated i gave up soda and bread, it can be something as simple as Watching TV or a particular TV show. Listening to certain music, even giving up GOSSIP, LOL this is probably a real hard one for some people.  For some Christians, it has to be food. Whatever, it is for you, it is an awesome experience. It is something you do between you and God, and no one needs to know about it. Almost like a secret between you and God. 

 Matthew 6:16

And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.(NLT)

Deuteronomy 9:18

Then, as before, I threw myself down before the Lord for forty days and nights. I ate no bread and drank no water because of the great sin you had committed by doing what the Lord hated, provoking him to anger.(NLT)

Exodus 34:28

Moses remained there on the mountain with the Lord forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the Lord wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments —on the stone tablets. (NLT)

          As I have matured in age, what are they calling it now days, "Manopause"? LOL, I have lost some of my Patience, forgetting things, well, you get the drift!  This year I am focusing on coming out of my sabbatical and seeing where and what God has planned for my next “such a Time as this”!

So, what are your New Year’s Resolutions? What do you want God to do in your Life this Year? 

Prayer: 

Lord, you are awesome! I thank you for who you are and what you have done not only in my life but my family's as well. I lift up anyone out there that is struggling with something so strong that is causing them to be ill. Lord i pray for that person who is thirsting to know you more but is scared of the "unknown". I pray that everyone who has a New Year’s Resolutions, that they give them to you Lord.

In your Precious name, AMEN!