Act on Your Plan

Happy New Year!

As a New Year kicks off many people will declare or already have declared their “New Year’s resolutions.”   These plans and ideas, although very good and life-improving, often never see the light of day past the first week of January.  Why? Because coming up with the plan or idea is one thing actually carrying it out is another, especially when the thing takes some effort.

How many times have you said “I’m going to _____________.”?  You can fill in that blank with any number of things.  I’m going to exercise.    I’m going to eat better.   I’m going to quit smoking.   I’m going to actually read my Bible.  I’m going to invite that person to church.  You get the idea.  But then that is as far as it goes.  Soon after, you declare your good intentions the excuses or reasons to put it off start.  I’d eat better; but it’s the holidays.   I’d exercise; but it’s too cold outside.   I’d quit smoking; but work is stressful.   (Hint: cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.)   I’d read my Bible; but I don’t have time.  I’d help my fellow man; but I need to rest.

So, guess what?  If you don’t do your resolution or plan, nothing will happen.   Yes, nothing will change. Life will continue moving along just as it has.  Do you get that? Nothing will change.  The things you actually thought were important enough to think about, form a plan and declare that you were going to do, will not happen and you and your situations will stay the same unless you actually do something about it.

In this New Year, just saying “I’m going to” isn’t going to cut it for you.   Because you are not just a talker you are a doer, a person of action.  Remember, there are people who talk about a problem or a situation.   And there are people who do something about it.   Since you’re reading this and interested in developing your life in the perfect will of God I’m going to assume that you actually want to do something about your life. That harvest of positive results comes from sowing positive actions over a period of time.

Life takes discipline.   For example:   My wife walks around 45 minutes three times a week.  But you know what?  She started with walking for 15 minutes, 3 times a week.  After 3 years, that 45 minutes is, pardon the pun, a walk in the park.  You see she started small; but she started.  She had to actually take those first steps and then refuse to miss her walking days.   The same principal applied when I quit smoking 2 ½ years ago, I actually had to stop buying and lighting them.

Let me come to the point.  Whatever it is that you want different in your life, pray. Determine what actions you need to take.   Then take them.  Otherwise, you can expect to look January 1, 2010 in the face with nothing changed.