Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Borrowing from Coach John Wooden’s words, I urge you to care more about your character than your reputation as you invest your energies. I think strong resolutions will help make that happen. If we plan to be a positive influence for righteousness in a world rapidly losing its way, we cannot wander through these years without a compass of commitment.
I promise to make these my resolutions from now on. I challenge you to do the same.
To be alert to the presence of evil and the strategy of the adversary. Our adversary wants nothing more than to demoralise, discourage, and discredit every one of us. He is the original murderer, the first deceiver. We cannot afford the luxury of ignorance. We must know our enemy and be alert to his presence.
To stay fervent in prayer. Let’s fight our best battles on our knees. Rather than becoming better at debate and more clever in our sarcasm, let’s quickly drop to our knees and do our best work there.
To refuse to retaliate in the energy of the flesh. Revenge is a dead-end street. But when we are swung at, the great tendency is to swing back. What a time-wasting effort. And worst of all, our adversary loves it when we take him on in our own flesh. Every time we make that mistake, we lose.
To refuse to slacken, surrender, or quit the path of obedience no matter how intense the pressure. It’s time to embrace a strong resolve and to encourage all in our family to do the same. Let’s stop the thinking that says if it’s uncomfortable, then don’t pursue; if it might offend someone, then don’t make waves. Obedience is a lonely path so we need to walk it together.
Finally, To seek to glorify the Lord God and to trust the Word of God, regardless. The glory of God ultimately becomes the major filter of one’s life. What a way to live! No one has a freer conscience than one whose conscience has been cleansed and whose heart has been washed by the blood. No one has a reason to laugh at life like the believer in Christ.
