Embrace all the challenges in the new year

Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 28, 2013

The old year has completed its course. Whatever occurred in 2013 is history — gone forever.
A new year is facing us with 12 unused months filled with the unknown. The way we choose to spend those 12 months will depend mostly on us. It’s a new year with new challenges and new opportunities. The question to each of us is: Will we meet the challenges head-on or just sit tight and wait for things to happen?
During the year, opportunities will be presented to us. Will we take advantage of them or be content with our life, even if we admit that it is boring?
Will 2014 be just a new year with the same old routines, or will we try to make good things happen?
Anyone can tell how a person is doing by asking one simple question: “How are you doing?” Ninety-eight percent of the people will say one of two things. The most popular answer is: “I’m hanging in there.” My response to that is if you want to hang in, you ought to go to the zoo. That usually gets a laugh.
The sad thing is that just hanging
in is contrary to what God has planned for our lives. He wants us
to let go and surrender to His
will.
The second most popular answer is: “I’m just existing.” With most people, that’s an honest answer. They aren’t living; they’re just existing. They’re not making things happen; they’re acting as a spectator and watching the world go by.  
I must admit that in years past, I have not only been guilty of giving those answers but actually living them out.  
My New Year’s commitment is to live each day to the fullest, meet every challenge head-on and take advantage of every God-given opportunity. I’ll allow God to increase in my life and the old Harold Keller, with all his pride, selfishness and condemning spirit, to decrease. I need to quit trying to impress people and concentrate on pleasing God. I will focus more on where I’ll spend eternity than on my wants in this life, which are only temporary. I want to be used by God to help others who are struggling with life’s issues.
I’ve decided to claim the good life that God promises in I Corinthians 2:9, “…Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
My goal in 2014 is to claim with enthusiasm the exciting life that God promises, with all its challenges and opportunities, knowing that He is in control of the results.
Happy New Year!
If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477, or email hkeller@comcast.net.