New Year Theme 2012

   Every year, I come up with a theme for the year. It is kind of like a New Year's resolution, but a little different. I try to focus my spiritual attention on this particular theme throughout the year. I was inspired to do this by a favorite preacher of mine, Tom Harmon. Last year's theme was "Listen." So I focused on the skill of listening, not only to other people, which is hard enough, but to God. I confess, I did not do a great job of learning to listen. I still have a long way to go. But there seems to be this funny pattern every year: I typically improve in a year's theme much more the year after I focus on it. So I hope to grow even more in the area of listening this next year.
   But this next year, I my theme is "Deny yourself. Follow Christ." This is a two-fold theme. First, God has been showing me in the last few months a big pattern of selfishness in my life. Almost everything I do, even spiritual things, seems to have a selfish purpose behind it - to be truly honest. I don't want to be selfish, but that is what my heart naturally reverts to in times when I let my guard down. Pride is diametrically opposed to the authority of Jesus. Jesus calls me to deny myself and follow Him, not me. So this year, I am dedicating my mental and spiritual efforts to the endeavor of laying my life down every day.
   What is your resolution this year? I'm sure you have one. Is it about making Jesus more famous or is it about about making yourself more attractive? I would encourage you to think about your spiritual life in this past year. Are you satisfied with where you are at? Think about where you want to be by 2013, pray for the Lord's help to get there, and busy yourself following him.