We start a new year, and it is time to reflect on how we have lived the past year and make a new start. It’s the time for resolutions and promises, but as Christians, let’s focus on doing four things in the new year.

ONE. STOP STEALING FROM GOD.
Much of our dismay and stress comes from our relationship with money. Do I have enough of it? Where do I spend it? Why don’t I have more of it? Our lives become much less complicated and vexing when we clean up our relationship with money and the material world. Do these seven things and revamp your relationship with money.
Think about these seven things when it comes to money and material wealth.

1. Everything belongs to God.
2. Everything I am and have belongs to God.
3. Give the first of everything to God.
4. Use everything with thankfulness.
5. Pay tithe.
6. Sow your seeds for heaven (use your material wealth for the gospel).
7. After sowing seeds for heaven, consume what is left (discriminate between what you should and should not consume).

TWO. DAWN PRAYER.
Start attending dawn prayer. If you can’t make it to church, designate a prayer space like your kitchen or some quiet place in your house. You’re meeting a new day for the first time in your life. Meet the Lord. Ask for forgiveness. Seek His advice on things going on in your life. Ask God to help you prepare for the events you will encounter that day. Ask Him to lead you down the right path. If you start your day with God, you will be secure knowing He is watching over you. In the new year, become a morning person. Start your day off with prayer and see how your life changes!

THREE. SPREAD THE GOSPEL.
Start preaching the word and spreading the gospel. Designate a number and promise to reach out to that many people. If you can’t go out and pass out flyers or meet people, try “prayer evangelizing.” Pray for those people around you, and pray for God to work in their hearts. Let’s be more active in spreading His gospel! Let’s be more active in affecting the faiths of others!

FOUR. BIBLE STUDY.
Let’s study the Bible. We often forget to read the Bible, and when we read it, we tend to skim through it. Let’s start reading the Bible more sincerely and vigorously. Let’s designate how many lines or chapters we will read and stick to that plan. How much time do you spend watching your favorite show or listening to music or playing games and then say you don’t have time to read the Bible! Put your priorities in place, and in the new year, read the Bible.

Now is the time to make resolutions and promises for the new year. Remember, the most important resolutions we can make are the ones we make about our faith. Instead of simply looking forward to and hoping for a year filled with God’s blessings and miracles, do the groundwork for it to happen! If we start with these four things and continue them, God will never leave us behind. He will always be by our side. Boil everything down to these four things. Clean up your relationship with money! Start the day with God! Preach the word to others! Study the Bible! If we do these four things, God will shower us with his infinite blessings.

Click for Korean sermon https://soundcloud.com/yhpaik/1986-12-31-short-2