I Made My New Years Resolutions


by Linda Dipman - Date: 2006-12-21 - Word Count: 1048 Share This!

The crystal ball rose and the fireworks exploded welcoming a brand new year. Excitement filled the air with the expectations of fulfilling every pledge I made to do things better than the year before.

This year it was going to be different! A new house, a promise of a promotion at my job and of course an exercise program to shed the extra pounds. Everything was in place. I was energized and full of anticipation of making it the best year ever.

Night fell and the work week began. A rumor began buzzing around the office that the boss was bringing in new management. Immediately I walked nervously to my desk wondering how this could happen to me!

At lunch I needed a hamburger and French fries. I knew I was breaking my promised diet, but I was afraid for my job and I needed comfort food.

The work day ended and I walked into my house with a feeling of fear wrapping around me and motioning me to run for the remote control and stare into the big screen television. The sound fell on deaf ears and my mind exploded into thoughts over the sudden turn of events.

I glanced at my table where the brochures lay highlighting the house of my dreams and I began to cry. God, why are you letting this happen to me? I reached for my dusty Bible and it fell open to Revelations.

Revelation 3: 14b-16, "This is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the origin of all that God has created. I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!"

The words I read were startling. I didn't understand why God would want me to see this particular passage. I believed in God. I was a Christian. I had memorized the Bible as a child and I attended church faithfully.
As I justified myself before God a voice whispered "Keep Reading". My eyes once again took in the next verse and then the next.

Revelation 3:17-19, "You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see. I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins."

I haven't sinned! I deserve that promotion and I need a new house. God what are you saying to me? I practice my faith. Let's face it God, I can't buy gold from you, I have to work for it!

The whisper was calm and loving. It was if I was being given a choice of which path I would choose. A path to gain all the riches found in this world or a path that would take me on a spiritual journey of revelation.

I don't understand what your saying to me God. I have a plan! This year I am going to be successful and I am going to purchase the house I always wanted. I know that it may seem bleak at the moment, but I believe you are going to help me do this.

The quiet whisper softly prodded me forward to pick up my Bible and read some more. I obeyed. I wanted to understand what kind of gold God could give me. Is this gold better than my New Years plan?

Revelations 3: 20-22, "Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his house and eat with him, and he will eat with me. To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne.
'If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!'"

A flood of thoughts lovingly filled my being. They persuaded me to look at my life completely different.

For weeks I had made my plans and designed my path so I could fulfill my desires for my life. Now God was telling me to think about these choices.

I had become so wrapped up in my plan that I had stopped growing in my spiritual life. I had put God aside and I only read my Bible and prayed when I was in trouble.

I wasn't playing my game of life to win the world for God and good. I was becoming self serving and I was trading my Christian identity for the things I could gain from this world.

I needed to get a grip and remember that my life's purpose isn't about things, but about Spiritual gold found in serving God. I grabbed a piece a paper and began a new list.

My newly revised New Years pledge. I would pray more and read my Bible daily. I would ask God to show me how I can serve Him better. I will pray for the people who have needs in my church. I will volunteer at the homeless shelter and give more in my tithe.

The fear that once engulfed me subsided! I began to breathe deeply once again renewed in my faith and determined that with God I would win this world for Him.

My boss held out his hand to welcome me into his office. To my surprise he stated that he wanted me to head the new management team. He said he noticed how hard I worked and he trusted that I would do a good job.

At the end of the day, I left the office Praising God. His whisper filled my thoughts. His love wrapped around me and let me know that I was His again and He was proud of me.

My own thoughts cherished God's words and made me even more determined to win my race in this world as God's Christian Soldier. I would do my work not for what I would gain, but for what I could give.


Related Tags: knowledge, love, jesus, bible, truth, whisper, christian, god, resolution, heaven, revelations, new years

My name is Linda C Dipman and I am the author of THE GAME OF LIFE IT'S ALMOST OVER. I prove through the Bible and my own life story that we are in a huge multifaceted world game. My web page is http://www.outskirtspress.com/gameoflife. Go to Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com and Read THE GAME OF LIFE IT'S ALMOST OVER today and understand your destiny and how to win your game. thegameoflife

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