Practical Tips on How to Be Faithful in 2009

What makes another year bad lies on how well we stayed focus and followed through our commitments. We hastily say ‘YES’ when we actually meant the opposite. So, we end up being unfaithful and our credibility tarnished.

The Rev. John MacArthur gives us some practical tips to help us stay faithful and committed in all our dealings and day-to-day encounters. You might want to consider the following as you start 2009 anew and with resolves:

• Start small. Start with your room. Clean it, and then keep it clean. When something is out of place, train yourself to put it where it belongs. Then extend the discipline of neatness to the rest of your home.


• Be on time. That may not seem very spiritual, but it’s important if you’re supposed to be somewhere at a specific time, be there on time! Develop the ability to discipline your desires, activities, and demands so that you can arrive on time.


• Do the hardest job first –doing that will prevent the hardest job being left undone.


• Organize your life. Plan the use of your time; don’t just react to circumstances. Use a calendar and make a daily list of things you need to accomplish. If you don’t control time, everything else will!


• Accept correction. Correction helps make you more disciplined because it shows you what need to avoid. Don’t’s avoid criticism; accept it gladly.


• Practice self-denial. Learn to say NO to your feelings. Occasionally deny yourself things that are all right just for the purpose mastering doing it. Cultivating discipline in the physical realm will help us become more disciplined in our spiritual and even financial lives.


• Welcome responsibility. When you have an opportunity to do something that needs to be done, volunteer for it if you have a talent in that area. Welcoming responsibility forces you to organize yourself.
Best of luck in 2009!