It’s 2012.
A New Year. At least that’s what the calendar says.
But, the question is, “Will this year be any different than the one that just passed? Or the one before that one? Or the one before that?”
The answer is “No”—unless we make it a “new” year. Different from the rest. A year in which it’s no longer “business as usual.” A year in which we cease implementing Eistein’s “Formula for Insanity,” which is “Doing the same things you’ve always done the same way you’ve always done them and expecting different results.”
Wow. Pretty profound words, aren’t they?
Without a doubt; however, that’s all they are—just words—unless we do something about them.
So, the question is “What changes do you need to make in your life? What areas in your life are out-of-balance and you’ve been saying for a long time ‘I need to do something about that,’ but have put off doing anything about it’?”
Well, now’s the time. Today’s the Day. It’s now or never—for as the song of years ago used to say “Tomorrow never comes.”
Nope. Tomorrow never comes; in fact, the things you do or don’t do have a direct bearing on tomorrow. Like the little poem says, “One ship sails east and another sails west, With the self-same winds that blow. It’s the set of the sails and not the gales that determines which way she will go.”
So true, so true.
Therefore, as the ‘ole saying goes, “The ball’s in your court.” Are you going to stay where you are. . .wishing things were different. . .or are you going to do something about it?
Are you out-of-shape? Get up off the couch, get your walking/running shoes on and hit the road or the treadmill. Get rid of the junk food in your cabinets, start eating healthy food and quit stopping at the local drive-through or convenient store to buy ice cream, candy bars, cigarettes, booze, etc.
What about your mind? What books have you read lately? Have you become a “passive participant” in life—i.e., a spectator who says to the world “Entertain me!”—and have lost those creative and imaginative juices that add zest to life?
If so, do something about it. Go to the local bookstore and buy a book. Or buy a Kindle or some other type electronic reader and download some reading material; then, make reading an integral part of your life—for, as someone said, “The mind’s a terrible thing to waste.”
But, there’s a word of caution here:
Be careful what you read. The Bible says “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7a) and “Keep your heart with all diligence—for out of it are the issues of life, i.e., the things that are important” (Prov. 4:23).
In reality, this is the starting place for all of the above. Just as an out-of-balance tire must be examined to see if the rim’s bent or which weights need adjusting, so does an out-of-balance life need examining and adjusting.
And, Jesus was quite clear when He said “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness—and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
Simply put,
until we put God first in our priorities, purpose, passions and pursuits, we’ll always be out-of-kilter and following the latest fads and philosophies.
As Steve Job, co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., said before his death on October 5, 2011, “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.”
So true, so true.
But, we must make sure that “something wonderful” will pass the test of time and won’t ultimately succumb to rust, rot and robbers (Mt. 6:19-20). And, that can only happen when we walk with God, seek Him first, study His Word and surrender to His Will. Here’s praying 2012 will be your best year ever. God bless you.
January 4, 2012
