One thing I will do this year, is organize our garage. We’ve lived in this home for almost 6 years and the garage is still cluttered and disorderly. It’s no one’s fault but my my own. I’ve already made the call to a friend to help me build some shelves. (Truthfully, he’s going to build the shelving. I’ll just write him the check.) We all have our gifts if you know what I mean.

People all over the world have already broken their New Year’s resolutions. This was the year they were going to quit smoking, quit drinking, start exercising, eating healthier, being nicer, reading their Bible everyday and so on and so on. We’re only a few days into 2011 and so many have gone back to old habits. If that’s you, don’t be discouraged. Don’t cheat yourself out of the opportunity to experience success. Failure is part of the process. Don’t give up trying, again! Your new life starts NOW!

Ephesians 5:16- “Be very careful, then, how you live. Not as unwise but as wise. Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Today is the beginning of the rest of your life! Today is the day of Salvation! Ben Franklin put it beautifully when he said, “One today is worth two tomorrows.” The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. John Maxwell said, “It’s the job that never started that takes longest to finish.” Don’t worry about failing yesterday. You can’t get it back. Just focus on today and make the right adjustments. Don’t underestimate what can be done in one day. So often we get overwhelmed by our past that it paralyzes us from moving forward. Live today to the fullest because you only get to once! You can win, but you must begin!

Where are you today? Have you tried, and then failed time and time again. Have you experienced success only to find yourself right back at square one. Maybe your afraid to start because you don’t even know where to begin. Words of discouragement and death have been spoken over you so many times by others that you have accepted your lot of mediocrity or poverty. Sometimes we even sabotage ourselves because we are afraid that we might actually win. Many of us don’t feel worthy enough to live the life God has promised so we just settle for less.

I watched the reality show, “Biggest Loser” last night. It highlighted a special Thanksgiving Dinner where all of the “Winners” from previous seasons had come together for a reunion. It was very inspiring to see individuals who were once very unhealthy, some even close to death because of their weight, yet now they were experiencing a whole new life because of the better choices they were making. One of the participants in particular had gained all of his weight back. You could see the pain in his eyes. You could sense the embarrassment he felt because he was the only one who hadn’t kept his weight off. He explained to the rest of the group that he really didn’t want to come to the reunion and face the music. But he realized that if he was ever going to rediscover health and true happiness, he had to take that first step.

What about you? A year from now, where will you be? Hopefully you’ll be able to look back at today with a smile and say, “I’m glad I decided to make a change”! God’s given you everything you need to win, to succeed, to live the life He’s promised you. The choice is yours. Your new life starts NOW!

Making the most of it,

Joe