Do It Better
January 4, 2016
Romans 3:23 ". . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . ."
Happy New Year! Most people believe the start of a new year can be the start of something fresh, a new chapter, good things to come. And it can certainly mean that if it is what the Lord desires. The turn of a new year is often a time when we like to make resolutions, intentions to do something with vigor. If the new year is a time for you to do that, then you certainly should. Good habits are worth the effort and the start of a new year can be just the place to begin. You may be the opposite kind of person at the new year, realizing resolutions are easily broken by the majority of individuals. There is nothing in Scripture requiring you to make a New Year's Resolution.
But I do have a suggestion. Whether you make a resolution or not, whether you try something new or you pick up something you set down a long time ago, you should do life better. Picking up a new habit is great, but how about the things with no Heavenly value you need to lay down? How about getting back to what the Lord has for your life. Whether it is the start of a new year or the start of a new morning, the Lord desires that you align yourself daily with His plan for your life. I'm not suggesting you've left the path completely, but I am suggesting you've probably missed the mark more often than not. The Lord's design for your life has not changed, it has always been the same since the day you were born. Your life, your current state of being, may agree with that or it might not. Does your life look completely as the Lord intended or does it look a little more messy? As you do life, are you doing it as the Lord wants?
If you saw a picture, a final drawing of what the Lord desired for your life, would it resemble your life today. The Holy Spirit is pricking your heart right now, this very moment, affirming in your spirit what He'd like for you to change, how He'd like it better. This isn't to punish you but to give you the life He intended for you. Doing it better means He can use you for His glory even more. Doing it better means you can receive His full blessings on this earth. Doing it better means less heart ache than you experienced last year. Doing it better means your reward in Heaven will be larger and your time on this earth will be far less stressful.
As I read and re-read Scripture, I notice the lives of those who did amazing things for the Lord. I also noticed where they missed the mark while going about their lives, how that impacted things so much, the ripple effect into everything. While they were used for His glory, they certainly could have done life better, if anything avoided so much heart ache. The Lord's grace was there for them and it is there for you, though grace for your shortcomings should not be your permanent crutch. Do life, that is for sure, but this should be your resolution: do life better, as God intended for you. You know where you've missed the mark and He's asking you, telling you, to re-align your life perfectly with the original path He had for you. This isn't limited to your current spiritual walk but your hobbies and activities, your marriage, and even your career. Re-evaluate everything and figure out where you can do life better.
Don't take my word for it; look it up: Ps 139:16, Matt 3:10, Matt 24:45-47, Rom 3:21-24, James 4:17
Romans 3:23 ". . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . ."
Happy New Year! Most people believe the start of a new year can be the start of something fresh, a new chapter, good things to come. And it can certainly mean that if it is what the Lord desires. The turn of a new year is often a time when we like to make resolutions, intentions to do something with vigor. If the new year is a time for you to do that, then you certainly should. Good habits are worth the effort and the start of a new year can be just the place to begin. You may be the opposite kind of person at the new year, realizing resolutions are easily broken by the majority of individuals. There is nothing in Scripture requiring you to make a New Year's Resolution.
But I do have a suggestion. Whether you make a resolution or not, whether you try something new or you pick up something you set down a long time ago, you should do life better. Picking up a new habit is great, but how about the things with no Heavenly value you need to lay down? How about getting back to what the Lord has for your life. Whether it is the start of a new year or the start of a new morning, the Lord desires that you align yourself daily with His plan for your life. I'm not suggesting you've left the path completely, but I am suggesting you've probably missed the mark more often than not. The Lord's design for your life has not changed, it has always been the same since the day you were born. Your life, your current state of being, may agree with that or it might not. Does your life look completely as the Lord intended or does it look a little more messy? As you do life, are you doing it as the Lord wants?
If you saw a picture, a final drawing of what the Lord desired for your life, would it resemble your life today. The Holy Spirit is pricking your heart right now, this very moment, affirming in your spirit what He'd like for you to change, how He'd like it better. This isn't to punish you but to give you the life He intended for you. Doing it better means He can use you for His glory even more. Doing it better means you can receive His full blessings on this earth. Doing it better means less heart ache than you experienced last year. Doing it better means your reward in Heaven will be larger and your time on this earth will be far less stressful.
As I read and re-read Scripture, I notice the lives of those who did amazing things for the Lord. I also noticed where they missed the mark while going about their lives, how that impacted things so much, the ripple effect into everything. While they were used for His glory, they certainly could have done life better, if anything avoided so much heart ache. The Lord's grace was there for them and it is there for you, though grace for your shortcomings should not be your permanent crutch. Do life, that is for sure, but this should be your resolution: do life better, as God intended for you. You know where you've missed the mark and He's asking you, telling you, to re-align your life perfectly with the original path He had for you. This isn't limited to your current spiritual walk but your hobbies and activities, your marriage, and even your career. Re-evaluate everything and figure out where you can do life better.
Don't take my word for it; look it up: Ps 139:16, Matt 3:10, Matt 24:45-47, Rom 3:21-24, James 4:17
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