Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:25)

We have been talking about New Year’s resolutions and creating new habits. As you embark on this journey, think of your spiritual journey as training rather than a test. In tests there are only two outcomes: pass or fail. Viewing life as a test is sad and stressful because we are bound to fail. We may succeed for a day, a week, or even months but, guaranteed, there’s going to be a day when we fail. Seeing life as a test makes us see our attempts at life as failure. That’s not helpful.

Life is training. You see, in training, there are days when you feel sick or you just don’t feel like going to the gym to train or go on a run. But that doesn’t mean your training has failed. It just means you had a bad day, a sick day, or a tired day. So, you wake up for another day and get back into training. As long as you keep at it, you are succeeding.

A year from now you will be looking at resolutions and you will have a list of excuses as to why you failed again. Or, you will have a record of progress as you have been training in the habits of reading God’s word and prayer.

So, what will it be for you? Doesn’t the record of progress sound a whole lot better than a list of excuses?

Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

As discussed, it takes thirty days to create a new habit or to break an old habit. As you read God’s word everyday, commit to ending your time reading with praying. Praying is simply talking with God. Let God know what is on your heart, what is bugging you, what you are looking forward to, what God is up to in your life, etc.

As you go through your day, pray. Talk with God.
As you encounter challenges, pray.
When something angers you, pray.
When something makes you happy, pray.
When something frustrates you, pray.
When something excites you, pray.
When something stresses you, pray.
When you find nothing to do, pray.

Wow! There are so many opportunities to pray!

The difference between those who succeed at keeping their resolutions and those who don’t is not effort, will, and good intentions. The difference for those who succeed is consistency. Just do it. Keep at it. Do it consistently for thirty days to create a new habit of prayer.

This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17).

Happy New Year from 73 degrees southern California. You know, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas in shorts and a t-shirt.

This is the time of the year many make resolutions for the upcoming year. If you are going to make a resolution, here’s a fantastic one: read God’s word for 10 minutes every single day. 10 minutes is two commercial breaks. Come on…we can do two commercial breaks.

The reason why I encourage you to get into God’s word is because there is no other way to know God other than through God’s word. How will you hear from God? Through God’s word. How will you know what God is saying to you? Through God’s word. But most importantly, how will you know if God is guiding you or if the devil is lying to you? How would you know? Through God’s word.

If we do not know God’s word, we do not know God. And, we are helpless to discern God’s will from the devil’s lies.

Sociologists say that it takes thirty days to create a habit. Do something for thirty days straight and it becomes a part of your life. So, on this day, commit to reading God’s word for ten minutes a day.

Finally, if you are new to reading God’s word every day, do not start with Genesis. Start with Matthew. Read the New Testament before you read the Old Testament. Genesis and Exodus are fine but you will have difficulty working through Leviticus and Numbers if you have not developed for yourselves a habit of reading God’s word.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!