New Year, New You

Well, it’s that time of the year again… the end. 2018 has come and gone and 2019 is just a few hours away, and let me just say, it’s been a banner year (insert adequate amount of sarcasm). Justin Timberlake released an album that no one listened to, a British prince married the girl from “Suits”, and Saudi Arabia gave women the right to drive, which they continue to refer to as “progress”. However, even after all of that, some people had a pretty rough year.
 
It's kind of become common place on social media to declare that the coming year will be better than the previous. I first remember seeing this trend as we approached the end of 2015. But when the much anticipated “Batman vs. Superman” film was less than stellar, topped with the deaths of David Bowie, Carrie Fischer and a number of other beloved celebrities, people looked to 2017. Then when 2017 didn’t fare much better, it was all about 2018, and now, not so surprisingly, people are all too ready to welcome 2019.
 
Maybe you’re one of the people who are looking to rip off your 2018 rearview mirror and drive on into 2019 with some hope of self-improvement. If that’s you, then keep reading, and if that’s not you, then keep reading.

The problem with most “New Year's Resolutions” is that when it all comes down to it, we honestly may not actually care about them, and they may be ridiculous and unattainable. However, here are three small changes you can make to turn 2019 into the best year of your life.
 
1: Get some exercise.
Yes I know, this piece of advice coming from a guy with my particular affinity for things covered in barbecue sauce seems a bit hypocritical, but I’m trying. Paul reminds us in I Corinthians that our bodies are “a temple for the Holy Spirit within you” (1 Cor. 6:19). As an added bonus, it’s been proven that continued physical activity can improve not only your physical well-being, but your mental state as well. I’m not saying you should get ready to compete in the Arnold Classic, but maybe take a walk, get some air, and enjoy the world that God has made just for us.
 
2: Spend time in God’s word.
This combines the need to spend time with the Lord and the added benefit of reading daily. You will be amazed at how your outlook on life can change just by spending time reading the Bible and seeing what God has to say to you, which leads me to step number three...
 
3: Have a quiet time.
This is a separate, but supplemental time from your Bible reading. It is a time where we step back, leave the cell phone across the room, turn off the television, and just listen. Take the time to really spend time with God, not just to make a check-mark on your to-do list. There is a lot that God wants to tell us; we just have to take the time to listen.
 
The bottom line is that, if we want things to get better, we have to be proactive. God is going to do amazing things for you this year. I’m not saying that if you do this you will be blessed with lots of money and a stress free life and everything you touch will turn to gold. What I am saying is that this seems to be a decent place to start finding God's will for your life.
 
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

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John Birkey
Worship Pastor

John has been a part of the Highland Praise Team since 2013, and became our Worship Leader in late 2015. John has been a musician for most of his life and has been playing in praise bands for several years. He also serves as the Worship Leader for Highland's Celebrate Recovery program.