We all love new stuff.  We love that new car, new house, new watch, new shirt, or really a new anything. We love to put that word “new” in front of a word because it changes the meaning of what it really is (at least in our own minds, it becomes something special).

That new thing we get as a gift or buy with our own money gets our special attention. We treat those new things with tender loving care (TLC). Since we all say “Happy New Year,” I want to challenge you to treat the NEW decisions you make for your life with tender loving care. This is a new year, and we are going to make new decisions for our lives so we better choose wisely.

I said this last year, and it is worth repeating again this year, so please stop! Stop!  Do not do it! Please do not make a New Year’s resolution. New Year resolutions do not last and we typically do not follow through with them. Almost half of every American makes a New Year’s resolution and only 8 percent of them actually keep them. New Year’s resolutions are really a waste of time and something not really intended to be permanent. If we truly want to change anything in our lives to make things better, we would be better off asking God to help us change the things we want different in our lives.

HEBREWS 4:16

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There, we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

NLT

God is always working on us to help change the things that we need to change and want to change. It is not just a one-time quick fix; it is something that takes place repeatedly. We give ourselves to God once, but we need to transform and renew our lives for Him constantly.

If we want to be successful on a new diet or getting rid of a bad habit that we have, we really need God to help us. The best thing for us to do is develop new habits in our lives, so we receive the desired results we are looking for.

Making a New Year’s resolution is us thinking there is always a way out, or it is OK if we fail. However, allowing God to help us is the beginning of us starting something new that we are going to be doing for the rest of our lives.

In order for us to change things in our lives, we have to change the way we live our lives. In order for us to change the way we live our lives, we have to change what we say and do. In order for us to change the things we say and do, we need God to help us make our changes permanent and not temporary.

Please do not make a New Year’s Resolution and instead allow God to change the way you think for results that last a lifetime.

Pastor Tony Guadagnino

Christian Love Fellowship Church