Temperature Check 2005

Many of us made New Year’s resolutions this year and are trying to honor many promises to do better in the areas of our relationships, finances, weight control, and our walk with Christ, among other things. What happened to your promises for 2004? Were you successful at any of them? Do you even remember? I encourage you to sit down and write them down. Analyze all of your relationships: what is the relationship between you and your spouse? No, not the one you want everyone to believe you have – the real one! The one that exists behind closed doors. What is your relationship with your children? Are you spending more time fussing than forgiving? How about your co-workers? Are you just trying to climb the ladder of success, or are you taking every opportunity to let your light shine? Ok, let’s go there – how about your weight? Are you committed to getting into shape and becoming healthier so that you can have more energy to serve Christ and others, or are you stuffing your mouth with junk food as you read this article? Write down your answers to these questions and come up with some of your own, then place the paper in a drawer somewhere. Give yourself a temperature check at least every 3 or 4 months to see how on target you are with your goals. Were you hot, cold, or lukewarm? This, for me has become more effective than making a bunch of promises. The problem with promises or resolutions, if you will, is that once we brake one – we are less committed to all of them. By analyzing your life’s temperature often – you can be truthful with yourself and what you have or have not accomplished and push yourself gradually to meet your goals. Remember that even when you are not meeting your temperature goals, God is always faithful. Never forget that He is not slack concerning His promises toward you! Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them to thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Deut 4:9