As each New Year begins we make resolutions.  This year we will watch our diet and exercise more.  We will be nicer to our spouses and be more disciplined in our daily routine.  As we begin the New Year we are excited about new beginnings.  We make resolutions to do better and be nicer.  Those of us who have been on the planet for a while have done this for a number of years.  It seems like every year we start out good and then these good intentions start to unravel and fall by the wayside.

If you study the development of positive behavior habits there is a timeline of about forty days to develop a positive habit.   Conversely it takes one time missed to eliminate the habit.  When it comes to prayer, bible study and worship attendance the world, the flesh and the devil are working against us to destroy these positive behaviors.  God in the Bible tells us to seek him first and all things will be added to us.  The world we live in with all its distractions and stressors distracts us from our worship and devotion.  If it is hot or cold or we are not feeling well we tend to let church slide for a week or two. Then we develop an animosity toward our brothers and sisters in Christ and the devil tell us we are justified in not forgiving and staying angry.  The devil is a liar.

It is easy for us to be discouraged.  Poor health and shaky finances begin to chip away at our spirituality.  The second day of the exercise program produces a pulled muscle and we stop exercising.  We come to church and someone says something that hurts our feelings and we decide to stop coming for a while.   The news is bad.  There are wars and rumors of wars.  Earthquakes and natural disasters shake our world.  It would be easy to be discouraged.  Many will throw up their hands in despair.

Do not be discouraged our help is in the name of the Lord.  "God is our refuge and strength" (Psalm 46).  "No in all these things we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8)   Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character produces hope, hope never disappoints us."  (Romans 5)   God tells us that instead of unraveling in our failures and short comings we are to trust in his promise of salvation.  We will fail in all our efforts because we are sinful.  This is a truth we deny and hide from.  Still we are victorious in Christ.  Christ has won for us the victory.  Instead of turning from Christ we should cling to Him.  We repent.  He forgives.  We are faithless he is faithful.