2013:Starting Well and Finishing

• “…teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”—Psalm 90:12

Its 2013, resolutions have been made, but there are chances of many of us moving diametrically opposite to our resolutions by the first quarter of the year. There are possibilities of many reasons. In this article, I am going to try my best to provide a number of points I believe can help you stick to your resolutions till the end of the year. I will provide three points from the scripture above.

1. HAVE THE GOD FACTOR TOP ON YOUR AGENDA: 

• “…teach us….” 

2013 is a brand new year. We dont know what lies ahead, but God does know. Moses, who is believed to be the author of Psalm 90 knew the place of God when they wandered in the wilderness. He knew God's direction is crucial to their success.

Just as Moses relied on God's direction in the wilderness, we equally need God's direction to see us through 2013--- every second, minute, hour, day, week and months. We need God's direction. Many of us believe and talk about God but the way we live our lives seems to suggest God has no place at all in our decisions. If you have any priority in your life for 2013, I think God should be top priority. Make room for God in any life decision. Pray about everything; “Pray without ceasing”(1 Thess. 5:17). Ask God’s will in every situation. The will of God will simplify our lives if we all seek for God’s leadings and direction in our lives. David prayed to God and said “Teach us….” Let me briefly share some ways by which God can teach us.

•    His Written Word

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

God teaches us through His written word—The Bible. Make time to study the word because the word is the voice of God. In the beginning God spoke and said let there be…after the beginning He started speaking through various means…and now He is still speaking through His word by illumination and revelations of scripture. Ever got a word, phrase, or expression pop out from the pages of the Bible whilst reading? That is God teaching you a thing or two “…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63a).

• ·       The Holy Spirit

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come ( John 16:13).

As believers, we have not been left on our own to try out life for ourselves. We have the assistance of God's Spirit as a guide and teacher. The text above indicates that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. What a delight. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God" (Romans 8:14). Dont live your life in trial and error. Allow God's Spirit to teach you

•   Our Spirit (Inner Witness)

… there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding ( Job 32:8)

The human being is a spirit living in a body with a soul—I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ( I Thessalonians 5:23). God can teach us by speaking to our spirit through the Holy Spirit by inner promptings, inspiration, conviction and illumination and revelation of scripture (already mentioned above). We deny ourselves the joy of having fellowship with God by attributing the words He speaks to us to expressions like something told me, I feel like, my instincts and etc. The next time you get these “feelings” which mostly come as inner promptings, understand that it is God speaking to you—pause and listen.

•  Other Believers(Including Ministers of the Gospel)

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17).

No Christian is an island independent of other Christians. God can teach us a lot through other believers. A word from a Christian brother or sister can be a word from God which can turn our lives around. You don't know it all, allow God to reach you through other people. There are many means by which God can teach us, but for space and time I think the three above should suffice.

2. BE TIME CONSCIOUS:  

• "teach us to NUMBER OUR DAYS...."

Nothing is done haphazardly in the kingdom of God. Ecclesiastes 3:1 clearly spelt this out when Solomon wrote that “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Time is very crucial in everything we do. To be able to stick to our resolutions and see them come to fruition, let us be very careful in guarding and using time judiciously. Time is not on our side: Time once used, cannot be regained. 

Avoid procrastination. Avoid idleness. Avoid unnecessary leisure. Set time frames and bounds for project. Make sure no single minute of time go wasted. "Redeem the time, the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). Timing is very important in our walk with God. God works with times and seasons.

3. ACT ON YOUR RESOLUTION:   

• "that we APPLY our hearts to wisdom"

Whatever you have resolved to do, DO IT! Action they say is louder than words and it is true. Nothing can compensate for the “doing” part of your resolution. Fill a whole page with resolutions and nothing will happen till you have stepped out there to "apply" your resolutions to work. 

“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). “Be a doer of the word” (James 1:22). “In the morning sow your seed…” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). “How long will thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” (Proverbs 6:9). “…nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17).

These are just a few scriptures that gives us an indication that whatever we have resolved to do, we actually have to do it.