By Ed Barnett
Throughout my life I have made many resolutions. Some I have stood by and others, like dieting, I slipped away from over time, returning back into former eating routines. This is the time of year when many of us are once again thinking about making a few changes, and that’s when New Year’s resolutions flood in. What new activities should we take on, which attitudes require a change, and what may we want to creatively challenge ourselves with over the coming year?
This reminds me of Isaiah 43:18,19: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
God speaks about changes, starting new things! Why don’t we let God help each of us find a new thing that we can resolve to do in 2017? Can we rekindle our God-given creativity and allow Him to surprise us with a new journey this year?
As 2017 is ushered in, I’ve found myself thinking about this time of perennial resolutions. Ideas started appearing in my mind, ideas that would make a difference in our conference if we were to adapt them as our own.
strong> Church members of the Rocky Mountain Conference. Jesus will be my number one priority. I will spend time with Him every day. Family is my second biggest concern. I will faithfully take care of them. I will also be faithful in my employment. Through my daily work, I will allow Jesus to shine. And more—I will become a good neighbor and citizen.
Pastors and teachers of the Rocky Mountain Conference. Following Jesus will be my top priority every day. I will spend daily devotional time with Him. Secondly, I will look after my family and will spend the quality time I need with them. I will make sure they know I love them and that they will be taken care of. My church and school will be my next priority. Each week, I will give my district and school 40-50 hours of my devoted attention. To make a difference, I will help train and encourage my fellow church members and students to be the faithful ministers God wants them to be.
Conference office employees. Each day I am going to make Jesus first in everything I do. He will be front and center in my life and work. My family will be my second biggest concern. I will give each family member the love and time they deserve. Thirdly, I will be faithful in my office work and service. I am going to let Jesus shine through me as I partner with our church family throughout our entire conference.
Consider the impact we would make if this happened across our Conference. We would inspire others to join our faith community. God will partner with us as we follow our mission to make ourselves available to Him. Through us, He will finish His mission in our beautiful territory.
May we remind ourselves of the Bible verse that loudly addresses God’s promise for each of us: “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
Whatever new godly resolution you may make, if God put it in your heart, He will help you to fulfill it until Jesus comes.
–Ed Barnett is RMC president.