“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” – Hebrews 12:11-13
The start of the new year is often filled with resolutions. The fresh start offered by one year ending and a new one beginning fills us with hope that this new year will be better than the last. We often want the new year to include a “new and improved” us. We don’t simply want the new year to treat us better, but we want to seize the opportunity to become better ourselves. Resolutions come in many forms. Many make resolutions to get in better shape and lose weight. Others make resolutions to travel more, spend more time with family, or finally get the garage clean. Still, some make a resolution to grow in their faith (this is my favorite).
New Year resolutions are a wonderful thing. They are an intentional commitment to be a better version of ourselves. However, as many of us have learned, it takes more than just making a resolution to become something different. Change is hard work. Breaking habits and creating new, more positive habits takes discipline.
As a family of faith, we are committed to growing in our faith. This takes effort. Growing in our faith takes the disciple on daily habits that lead to a better understanding of God. Growing in our faith takes constant effort that eventually leads to a greater love for God and our neighbor.
As we begin this new year, I want to encourage you to pick one new, daily habit that will help you grow in your faith. There are so many wonderful practices that can lead to deepening our faith. You can add time for reading scripture, prayer, journaling, or reading a book that will help you with your faith.
It is not easy to start a new discipline, but it is worth it. The writer of the book of Hebrews writes about the necessity of discipline in our faith. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11) Let us look to God’s grace for help as we grow in our faith this year. The disciplines with start today can make so much good happen in the years to come.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
