More the Merrier

New Year’s resolutions couldn’t happen at a more appropriate time.  It should be no surprise that the #1 New Year’s resolution that Americans set each year is to lose weight and get into shape.  Why is this timing so appropriate?  That’s easy.  It’s because we just spent a little over a month engaging in eating habits to prove to ourselves that we truly are gluttons.  Let’s start with Thanksgiving.  

Here in the U.S. we make eating a part of every celebration we have.  Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, takes things to a whole new level, because eating is the only way most of us celebrate this holiday.  That means we have to make the food even extra special for Thanksgiving… usually by making more.  The conclusion of this holiday celebration always seems to end the same way for my family.  We eat until we can’t eat anymore and then all go and sit in front of the television for what we call “football,” but is actually family nap-time.  

Then comes Christmas, where we stuff stockings full of candy, have a massive brunch and eat pastries throughout the entire day.  Despite our best efforts, some of the cake, cinnamon rolls and goodies from Christmas don’t get eaten and end up in the freezer.  We can then eat those delectable sweets all the way into our New Year’s Celebration.  

New Year’s parties generally consist of celebrating, not just with family, but with large groups of people who all chip in to bringing food for the night.  Now eating too much isn’t just an option.  It’s a duty.  We must try to eat all of the food our friends brought to the gathering because they want to know how much we enjoy their food.  Not eating their food could be seen as statement of distaste.  We wouldn’t want that!  

It’s after this glut-a-thon that we ask ourselves, “What should I improve about myself this year?  Huh, well, uhhh…. maybe I should lose weight and get in shape!”  It’s as if God allowed us to survive our eating habits just long enough to resolve to do something about them.  

Many times it seems as though it’s when we are at our worst that we’re finally able to acknowledge that something needs to be done. The problem comes when we acknowledge that we are at our worst and fear that nothing can be done.  Essentially, we don’t see ourselves as capable people having failed, we see ourselves as failures having failed.  The failure becomes a part of who we are, rather than an instance that can ever be resolved.  

In Philippians it’s written that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” as an invitation to invite Christ into your life to overcome.  In other words, the moments where we’re at our worst are invitations to invite Jesus into our lives to overcome.  We have not been called to a life of defeat, but rather one of victory through Jesus.  

If you’re at a point where you’re focused on your own shortcomings, where you feel you have failed and don’t know the next step, look to Jesus.  See this moment as nothing more than an invitation to overcome through Him.  Invite Him in, connect with Him through prayer and stand back up again, stronger than ever.  If you get knocked back down, take His hand and get back up again, but remember… you’re in good company.  You’re support comes from the one who defeated death.  

Pastor Travis