An alcoholic read the label on a liquor bottle which said liquor is extremely dangerous to health because all the vital body organs will be damaged.   He then told his friend that he has made a strong new-year resolution.  The friend excitingly queried what the resolution was.   The alcoholic replied "I resolve never again to look at the label of a liquor bottle!"

It is new-year time and we keep pondering over making resolutions. Some of us try to subtly avoid the more serious decisions by focusing on petty resolutions or   even circumvent a real problem instead of getting to the heart of it and trying to solve it. We sometimes make resolutions that don't really affect change in the quality of our life or just don't keep the resolutions we make.  Good new-year resolutions are often those that are egalitarian in nature; those that make the lives of others, happier.  

Parents deciding to spend more time at home with the kids, spouses deciding to be more forgiving, kids resolving to co-operate better with parents or friends choosing to be a little more understanding towards each other are resolutions that could make life a lot more meaningful.   Among all resolutions, however, deciding to become a seeker of God is the best.  

The Bible says "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'…for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you". (Matthew 6:31-33). Prosperity is something that everybody looks forward to.   'He who trusts in the Lord will prosper' (Proverbs 28:25). 

So as you step into the new-year, don't look behind at your failures and disappointments.   Worries don't add one bit of strength to your present or your future. Worries only drain today of its strength and ruin a perfectly beautiful future.

Don't look around at things that tend to scare you because there is no fear that you cannot conquer. Worry looks behind, Fear looks around and Hope looks up.  Remember, when you say that a situation is hopeless, you are slamming the door on the face of God.   So be hopeful as the New Year begins.