A New Years Resolution by Al

Hi Guys! I want to share a New Years Resolution by one of our TFI Gateway key members, Al Gonzaga! I think it is an important time of year that we all reflect and re-focus. Be blessed!:


My New Year’s Resolution always boils down to one thing. More than anything I want to be the kind of person who lives a life devoted to Christ with all my heart.

Each year God shows me a problem I need to overcome or something about how I live my daily life that needs to change so that I can become more centered on Christ.

Three of our Bible heroes inspire us to live with singular devotion to the Lord:
• David: In the midst of his painful and frightening desert trials over about ten years in which he was horribly mistreated and nearly killed he prayed, “One thing I ask, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life… My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’” (Psalm 27:4, 8).

• Mary: She set aside her kitchen work to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to him and she received his affirmation: “There are many things that can be worried about, but only one thing is needed – it is the best thing – and Mary has chosen it!” (Luke 10:41-42, my paraphrase).

• Paul: He counted his many accomplishments and blessings as dung compared to the “surpassing greatness of knowing Christ” (Philippians 3:8). He expressed his life ambition, “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

This year, more than ever, I want to seek the best thing, to be more devoted to Christ, don’t you?

How do we grow to be devoted to Christ?
How do we make real changes to how we live our daily lives as an expression of love for God?
How do we overcome worry or anger?
How do we learn to rejoice in trials?
Pray without ceasing?
Love difficult people?

Not by trying hard! That won’t last very long. Or it’ll just make us proud!
The way to make a real character change – to learn, grow, or heal in any area – is by training. Look to Jesus as your Coach and “work out” with him. “Train yourself to be godly” Paul advises us (1 Timothy 4:7).
An important part of any spiritual training program is meditating on Scripture.

To meditate on Scripture is more than reading it. And its different than studying it. When you meditate on Scripture you pray through God’s Word by applying it to the struggles and opportunities of your life. You become as a bee that stops on a flower and lingers, staying on the flower to suck out the nectar, using it to make sweet honey.

HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!
In Jesus,
Al

Gonzaga Aloysius Y Se. Tan