Series: “I Am Going To Be Better This Year…Even If It Kills Me! Why Bother Doing Better?

1. Series: “I Am Going To Be Better This Year…Even If It Kills Me! Why Bother Doing Better?

2. Why Bother Doing Better? Getting fit and losing weight are two of the top New Year's resolutions people make. But studies show that while many start strong, half quit six months after they begin. As the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, millions of people will make New Year’s resolutions. However, according to the most recent study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, it is estimated that only 46 percent of those resolutions will be kept for more than 6 months. Nevertheless, the same study reveals that people who set explicit New Year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to achieve their goals than people who make more general resolutions.

3. Why Bother Doing Better? • Among the people surveyed, the most popular New Year’s resolutions were: • Get fit • Lose weight • Get a better job • Quit smoking • Spend more time with family • Pay off credit cards • The most popular New Year’s goals people set, according to Miller and Marlatt (1998) are: • 37% – Starting to exercise • 13% – Eating better • 7% – Reducing the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and other drugs, or quitting smoking

4. Why Bother Doing Better? • According to the same survey, most people — 75 percent — who make a resolution fail on their first attempt and most people — 67 percent — make more than one resolution. • Why do they fail? • 1. Not Written Down. • 2. Broad Goals. • 3. No Rewards. • 4. Unrealistic Goals. • 5. Quitting Too Soon.

5. Why Bother Doing Better? DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: What good does it do to make a list of New Year’s resolutions? I’ve done it most years, but I don’t think I’m even going to bother this year because I never keep them, and I just end up frustrated. — F. McN. I think all people (religious or not) struggle with doing better and failure.

6. Why Bother Doing Better? DEAR F. McN.: I suspect many people feel the same way you do; it’s far easier to make a list of things about us that we’d like to see changed than it is to actually change them. Why is this? One reason, I suspect, is because most things on our list of New Year’s resolutions are little more than wishes — that is, things about ourselves that we wish were different. But we never take the second step, which is to decide exactly what we’ll need to do to reach those goals. You might resolve to lose weight, for example, but if you don’t develop a plan to change your eating habits and exercise more, you probably won’t succeed.

7. Why Bother Doing Better? But we also fail because we don’t seek God’s direction and help. The most important question you can ask as a New Year begins is this: What does God want to do in my life during the coming year? Instead of making a random list of resolutions, ask God what changes he wants to make in your life. God wants you to come to know him by giving yourself to Jesus Christ. If you’ve never done so, ask him to come into your life today. Then God wants you to grow closer to him by turning from sin and living for Christ every day. Let the Psalmist’s prayer become yours: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. … See if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:23,24).

8. Why Bother Doing Better? Why are people more concerned about their physical changes thantheir spiritual changes?

9. Why Bother Doing Better? None of us are perfect Romans 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

10. Why Bother Doing Better? • None of us are perfect • Romans 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: • We need to do better

11. Why Bother Doing Better? • None of us are perfect • Romans 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: • We need to do better • We can do better (through His help)

12. Why Bother Doing Better? Psalms 51:1(KJV) 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

13. Why Bother Doing Better? 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

14. Why Bother Doing Better? 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

15. Why Bother Doing Better? When we fail there is one who can help us - 1

16. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail there is one who can help us - 1 • Mercy according to His lovingkindness – not our goodness

17. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail there is one who can help us - 1 • Mercy according to His lovingkindness – not our goodness • Mercies full of forgiveness

18. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail there is one who can help us - 1 • Mercy according to His lovingkindness – not our goodness • Mercies full of forgiveness • Mercies that can cleanse us from our sins and shortcomings – 2

19. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we should confess it to God – 3

20. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we should confess it to God – 3 • We should not try to hide it

21. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we should confess it to God – 3 • We should not try to hide it • We sin (always) against God - 4

22. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we should confess it to God – 3 • We should not try to hide it • We sin (always) against God - 4 • We are seen (always) by Him

23. Why Bother Doing Better? When we fail we continue down the wrong path

24. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we continue down the wrong path • We are sinful creatures – 5

25. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we continue down the wrong path • We are sinful creatures – 5 • God wants more that that from us – 6

26. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we continue down the wrong path • We are sinful creatures – 5 • God wants more that that from us – 6 • God has a better way

27. Why Bother Doing Better? When we fail we need and should desire His cleansing - 7

28. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we need and should desire His cleansing - 7 • David wanted to be spiritually clean

29. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we need and should desire His cleansing - 7 • David wanted to be spiritually clean • David sought complete forgiveness - 9

30. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we fail we need and should desire His cleansing - 7 • David wanted to be spiritually clean • David sought complete forgiveness - 9 • David sought a better, closer walk with the Lord – 10-12 • 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

31. Why Bother Doing Better? When we win (through Him) others win - 13

32. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we win (through Him) others win - 13 • We can reach others for the Lord

33. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we win (through Him) others win - 13 • We can reach others for the Lord • Their lives will be changed

34. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we win (through Him) others win - 13 • We can reach others for the Lord • Their lives will be changed • We can joyously sing His praises – 14

35. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we win (through Him) others win - 13 • We can reach others for the Lord • Their lives will be changed • We can joyously sing His praises – 14 • We will continually praise Him (even in our failures) - 15

36. Why Bother Doing Better? When we win we do more than just window dressing – 16

37. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we win we do more than just window dressing – 16 • More than playing religion – 16

38. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we win we do more than just window dressing – 16 • More than playing religion – 16 • More than just reciting words – 17

39. Why Bother Doing Better? • When we win we do more than just window dressing – 16 • More than playing religion – 16 • More than just reciting words – 17 • More than just looking good or having a good name – 18

40. Why Bother Doing Better? When we win we give our best our all to God – 19

41. Why Bother Doing Better? So what would David’s resolutions be? Found in verse 10, 15, 17:

42. Why Bother Doing Better? • So what would David’s resolutions be? Found in verse 10, 15, 17: • I will be more godly this year - 10 • 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me

43. Why Bother Doing Better? • So what would David’s resolutions be? Found in verse 10, 15, 17: • I will be more godly this year - 10 • I will have the right Spirit within me this year – 10 • 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me

44. Why Bother Doing Better? • So what would David’s resolutions be? Found in verse 10, 15, 17: • I will be more godly this year - 10 • I will have the right Spirit within me this year – 10 • I will praise Him more this year – 15 • 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

45. Why Bother Doing Better? • So what would David’s resolutions be? Found in verse 10, 15, 17: • I will be more godly this year - 10 • I will have the right Spirit within me this year – 10 • I will praise Him more this year – 15 • I will repent when I am wrong and have sinned - 17 • 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

46. Why Bother Doing Better? • So what would David’s resolutions be? Found in verse 10, 15, 17: • I will be more godly this year - 10 • I will have the right Spirit within me this year – 10 • I will praise Him more this year – 15 • I will repent when I am wrong and have sinned - 17 • I will do my best for Him this year - 19 • 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

47. Why Bother Doing Better? • Your godly resolutions: • Write them down (literally)

48. Why Bother Doing Better? • Your godly resolutions: • Write them down (literally) • Narrow down the goals (be specific)

49. Why Bother Doing Better? • Your godly resolutions: • Write them down (literally) • Narrow down the goals (be specific) • Rewards? Rejoice in the Lord for His mercies

50. Why Bother Doing Better? • Your godly resolutions: • Write them down (literally) • Narrow down the goals (be specific) • Rewards? Rejoice in the Lord for His mercies • Unrealistic? He will help us if we call upon Him