10 God Honoring Goals for 2013

As 2013 begins, many will resolve to change by making resolutions for themselves.  I used to draw up a list every year and give up by the third week of January.  Although some of our resolutions are for our betterment,  we seem to fall short in the end.  I personally made lofty goals and have fallen flat.  Here’s a suggestion.  Instead of focusing on what needs to change or improve, focus and meditate on God’s Word and how it applies to today’s stormy forecast.  The more you implement it into your life, you will find your resolutions getting met, major improvements in your countenance, and spiritual resiliency will carry you through any storm. 

1 - Speak LIFE in All Circumstances

There is a miracle in your mouth -- literally!

Proverbs 2:11-12 says, “Discretion will preserve you...to deliver your from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things…”  Even if the man is you!  Stay away from speaking unrighteously; it will not only hinder your walk with God, but it will affect your livelihood.

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

2 - In All Things...Give Thanks

God loves a grateful and humble heart.

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

3 - Whatever is True whatever is Pure whatever is Right…Think About Such Things

There is a war waging for your thoughts!  Before allowing a lie, wrong thinking, or anything contrary to God’s Word or character to penetrate your thought life, question its validity in the sight of God.  Hold every thought captive and make it submit to the will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

4 - Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

As I wrote in a previous article, Worrying Displeases God, what pleases Him is a life entrusted to Him and His statutes.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

5 - Forget the Past

Especially if it hurts you.  LET IT GO!  God only wants us to remember the good things He did for us, so we can glorify Him and share His marvelous works with others.  He did not create us to hold on to past hurts and wounds and lug them around like luggage.  He knows all our offenses.  Don’t worry, God Himself does not forget.  We don’t have to remind Him of all our past hurts and tribulations.  He ordains all the days of our lives.  He chronicles every event of our lives in volumes as if we were celebrities.  So forget the former things and lean towards what lies ahead.  God remembers all your milestones and saves all the memorabilia from your life...both the good and the bad.  So drop the millstone hanging around your neck.  He carries it all for you like a cosmic bell boy, except He won’t hold any of it against you.

Isaiah 43:18

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

Philippians 3:13-14

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

6 - Pursue Righteousness

This is another way of saying, live a life that honors God in all your actions, words, and deeds.  Righteousness is from God, because He is the only true example of righteousness.  It is also only through His power that we can live righteously.  Apart from Him, we cannot be righteous on our own; even with all our strength and might.  In Psalms 23, it says…”He leads me in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.

1 Timothy 6:11

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

7 - Read Your Bible Daily

God’s Word brings life, instruction, correction, and sweetness into our lives.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 119:103

How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

8 - Take Care of Your Body

Once we belong to God, our bodies no longer belong to us, but to God.  We must be good stewards of our time, talents, money, and bodies.  Our health and well-being is priceless, so being a good steward of what God has given us has many benefits.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

9 - Enlist in God’s Army

In other words, Serve Him.  I can’t stress this enough.  Start making deposits into God’s Kingdom.  You don’t have to quit your job or change your career.  You can serve Him by finding opportunities at church to serve once a month or a few hours a week, or go on a short term mission trip.  Do something!  Stop standing in the sidelines and watching others.  This is a way to show God your willingness to follow Him and obey Him...that you want to be counted as a Soldier for His Army.  He is looking for a few good men and women to entrust His work to.

I am not talking about works righteousness here.  Doing good works will not bring us into salvation, however it will bring us into a higher level of maturity in Christ.  Serving also takes our minds off of our own problems and trials and gives God a chance to work on our behalf as we work on behalf of someone else’s trials.  

2 Chronicles 30:8

Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.

Psalm 100:2

Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

Malachi 3:17

“They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

10 - Prepare for What Lies Ahead

Brace yourself for what lies ahead in the next few years.  More evil and catastrophic events will take place.  Wake up to the occurrences taking place worldwide.  Now is the time to cling closer to God and seek His Truth, Knowledge, and Revelations.  A major storm is underway.  Build your house on The Rock.  Reinforce your life with God’s Truth.  Get your house in order; get your spiritual life in line with Christ; simplify your life and don’t get so encumbered with the world’s entanglements.  They are all meaningless and will pass away.  Tune your life to the Eternal things of God.  These are what will matter in The End.

Ephesians 5:15-17

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Matthew 7:24-25

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”