New Year's Christian

Do you know a New Year's Christian?

A New Year's Christian is a someone who wants "to get closer to God" for their New Year's resolution.

They are easily spotted at church, since previously they were only sighted on Christmas and Easter.

The sudden spike in attendance messes with unofficial seating arrangements. They attempt to take the best seats. So I pay the ushers to linger around them for five seconds longer during the offering. Five seconds becomes an eternity in offering time.

Extreme New Year's Christians turn down morning coffee with a friend, since they have to get their "holy on" with God.

A New Year's Christian is quick to pray. You don't even have time to wipe your eyes after watching Sarah McLachlan's starving dog commercial before hearing, "Let us pray."

But New Year's Christians move on from their resolutions before too long. That is if they even do anything to begin with.

Do you know who I'm talking about?

Are you a New Year's Christian?

Are you mad yet?

There is a problem with New Year's Christians resolution to get closer to God.

The problem is it stinks.

The resolution in itself is great. Heck, my resolution every year is to get closer to God. But I learned something a few years ago.

A resolution to get closer to God lacks direction.

Just because it's a resolution doesn't mean it's going to happen. You don't get closer to God like you would find a coin on the ground. You need a plan.

Christian, you have a relationship with God. Relationships take work, if you want intimacy.

How am I going to get closer to God this year? My plan is to practice the spiritual disciplines more.
 
A few months ago I read where someone asked Billy Graham if he could do it all over again what would he change. His answer floored me. He said he would meditate on Jesus and pray more. I have no clue what it means to meditate on Jesus. But if Billy Graham says he would have done more of it, I'm going to learn.

I don't know a lot about spiritual disciplines, so I bought four books to study them. That's in my plan.

Honestly, if your goal is to get closer to God, then I'm pumped for you. But to succeed you need to plan.

If you haven't been spending time in the word, get on a Bible reading plan.
If you need to pray more, create some time to.
If you aren't going to church, find a church.
If you are going to church but really want to grow in your faith, find a way to serve or join a small group.

You don't have to be a New Year's Christian. If you are serious about getting closer to God, find an area that you need to improve on and do it. Once that becomes a HABIT, add something else.