Be encouraged by a fresh start. I have found it funny that over the last couple of days I have been thinking about who I want to be in 2010. It seems like my mind will not stop processing 2009 and making daily commitments to new beginnings. The reason why I have found this obsession funny is that with God and His grace I have a new beginning each and every day of the year. Maybe it would make more sense in my life and my purity to take my overall goals and commitments and confine them to one day at a time. To say, “I am going to fight with everything in my being to stay strong, to say no to impurity, and to be all God intends for me TODAY.”

A group of guys and I meet via the phone every Thursday morning at 5:30 am to talk about the week and hold each other accountable to our stated goals. This has made a huge impact in my personal life because each and everyday those 5 goals are pasted before me. I have committed with these guys to do these 5 things each and every day. Every day this is on my mind and because of that I have been more consistent and successful at these issues.

Today is your day to pursue Jesus and experience His grace. What is on your daily short list? Are all your goals for the year so big that they don’t consume your daily life?

Set some goals and make some commitments today that will become the focus of your daily life.

I was at a friends house for dinner the other night and his wife was giving us a tour of their house. We walked into their bathroom and pasted on her husband’s mirror was a list of 5 daily commitments he was making. I asked her about the short list and she said this. “Ever since we have been married he has had that list on the mirror. And everyday I can see those 5 commitments in his life.”

I don’t know about the rest of you, but as a Pastor it is extremely important for me that my wife, who truly knows me (the good, bad, and ugly), can see in my life the words that I speak to others.

Let this be a year where your commitments to character are clearly identified and seen daily in your life.

This is your year!

Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”