Ten Good Resolutions
N. Dale Cook, senior pastor, Eastmont Community Church (East Wenatchee, WA)

Can you believe it — 2004 is upon us already! How did that happen? Seems like the calendar leaves turn faster and faster. The good side to this is that we get to begin a fresh, new year with a fresh page in our lives — a time to reflect and begin anew; a time to change some things that need changing; to do some things we didn't do this past year and cease doing some of the things we have been doing.

Do resolutions serve any purpose, or are they simply made to break in a few days? We find in the Bible that several people made resolutions that were meaningful — Jacob (Genesis 28:20-22), Joshua (Joshua 24:15, 23), the three Hebrew children (Daniel 3:17-18) and Daniel (Daniel 6:7-10). Take some time to review them. [Click the blue text to read each of these Scripture references.]

Here are 10 good resolutions for the new year:

1. Read through the Bible in 2004
2. Learn how to share your faith (perhaps attend a Contagious Christian seminar)
3. Become part of a small group
4. Have a daily and consistent time alone with God
5. With God's help, deal with any besetting sin in your life
6. Get back to where you used to be spiritually (St. John's prescription to this was: Remember the height from which you have fallen; turn around; and do the things you did at first)
7. Become more physically fit
8. Decide to lay up treasures in heaven — preparing not just for retirement but for where you'll live for eternity
9. Begin to tithe
10. Decide to become a positive person

Come on now, let's not settle for not making any changes! Pray about it. I assure you that the Lord will place some long-overdue change on your heart.

With God's help, let's resolve and make those changes happen in 2004!