Posted by: District Evangelist Jeff Wiesel

It is the start of the New Year, the season of planning and resolutions. According to a 2017 survey, approximately one third of Canadians make a New Year’s resolution. The top resolution was to improve personal fitness and nutrition. This is a noble goal! Who would not want to take better care of themselves, feel better, have a healthier lifestyle and that sporting physique? Unfortunately, as the year progresses 73% will break those resolutions!

This desire to plan and improve spills over into our spiritual life as well: making plans for the new year about going to church, increasing our prayer life, and taking more time for fellowship and devotion. Basically, we plan to be better followers of Christ. Our challenge is to not give up and carry through with our plans!

There are many thoughts on how to accomplish the goals we make in life, how to make resolutions and keep them. One of the thoughts for successful goal planning is to design a goal that can be accomplished with a partner. We have the greatest partner of all - our Savior the Lord Jesus. The plans we work together with Him will be accomplished. 

In John 14: 12-18, Jesus tells us how we can partner with Him:

• Believe in Him. Those who believe in Jesus will do great works. 
• Love Jesus. When we love Jesus, we give room to the Holy Spirit to grow within us, providing Godly direction and courage to stay with Jesus.

Jesus promised He will not leave us alone. He will come to us and help us. 

There are many ways we can engage with a partner in our congregation to help us be successful together:

• Agree to teach Sunday school with your friend.
• Call and pray together with one who we are missing, or who misses us. A prayer together strengthens us.
• Make a soul care visit with our deacon or priest.
• Join a cleaning crew.
• Help with a snack for fellowship.

Carrying through on our plans can be tiring; it takes effort and energy. Fulfilling our goals, especially Godly ones, energizes us! 

Isaiah tells us about the benefit of serving God in chapter 40: 31 “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Making plans in God’s work and fulfilling them, even something that seems small, is appreciated by God and strengthens our faith.

We are not in this alone! Together we experience the Richness of Christ. There are many small tasks we can do. Whatever our plans let us remember as it says in 1 Corinthians 10: 31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  With this we will set our goals centered around God’s power in us. These are plans worth making, and they can be achieved!