Resolved For 2008!

by Bill Bray

EACH New Year I reveal my personal goals. Why should I dare to make such private resolutions public? Why hold myself accountable to family, supporters and prayer partners? Well, I find it helps for three reasons:

First, it makes me pray and work much harder to be consistent!
Second, friends help me. They encourage me when I slip. They pray.
Third, even critics help me by reminding me when I miss a mark!

Finally, mentoring others is important to me. I always hope that reading my goals will give others ideas as they write out their own lists of New Year’s Resolutions. So here they are—my personal resolutions for 2008.

FIRST, I resolve to wait more patiently for the Lord’s leading and guiding. I will try to begin each day in solitude and silence waiting to hear the voice of God. By God’s grace I will seek to obey His will, following His way and not my own.

In practical ways, this means I will have to go slower and wait for divine connections and be a divine connection instead of forcing my will and way. I will seek to be less of a salesman for God and more of a prophet. In most cases, my work is to proclaim God’s will, not enforce it!

SECOND, I resolve to focus more on my inner life, listening to the Holy Spirit and to a regular examination of my conscience and Holy Scripture.

In practice, this means that any plan or project that does not come from obedience to Christ’s word is either blasphemy or idolatry. Again, I will seek to let my actions come from inside my spirit rather than rely on outward circumstances, the benevolence of others, and what appears to be logical and convenient opportunities.

THIRD, I resolve to serve Him by serving others better.

In practice, this means making a more studied effort to incorporate Christ’s servant leadership methods in my own family and business affairs, rather than relying on my skills or the ways of the world I learned in school and life. I will avoid command and control situations.

FOURTH, I resolve to abstain from my life-long habit of men-pleasing in fund raising, public relations and politics.

In practice this means to avoid relying on my communication skills, mass media techniques and proven “best methods” of fundraising. It means choosing truth rather than compromise. I will remind myself often that those who reject me are rejecting Christ, and not seek to impose God’s will on their free moral agency.

FIFTH, I resolve to hold my church, mission and charity partners accountable for the actual costs of doing the ministry for them.

In practice, this means keeping accurate records of the hours spent and costs for each project and billing out at least 40 hours of ministry consultation a week at the true value (or) finding donors to cover the cost (or) spending that time in presenting the ministry to new partner clients. Giving away our ministry without covering the costs is stealing and turns people away from God.

SIXTH, I resolve to welcome and quickly accept correction and seek to live a disciplined and holy life at all times. I must remind myself that discipline is the first evidence of God’s love and therefore, it is ALWAYS to be welcomed.

In practice, this starts in my own diet and lifestyle, in my marriage, family, my relationship to ministry clients and partners and in all situations involving authority and leadership. I need to unashamedly promote disciplined behavior at every opportunity, never pretending that I have arrived or have attained success and therefore am exempt from the accountability and discipline that I am demanding from others. I will receive and give discipline as needed without fear.

SEVENTH, I resolve to deal with my aging openly and honestly, not ignoring the problems and opportunities in this season of my life.

In practice, this starts with planning for retirement and passing on my duties to younger people. I must not ignore physical, mental and emotional changes as I did so often during my childhood, adolescence or earlier stages of my life.

EIGHTH, I resolve to re-develop the Christian Information Service Media Fellowship Program as a way to mentor and pass along my vocational calling to younger people. I will do this both formally and informally.

In practice, this means making allowance in my life and work for new people. It especially includes networking among younger generations of media missionaries such as web-based media professionals. The dominant medium for the next generation are web-based, not the technologies I am skilled with such as direct-mail, magazines, newspapers, radio and TV. I must reach out to young people whenever possible even through it is scary and hard. Much of this effort to include new media people must be done informally in the course of our regular work without interfering with services to ministry partners and clients.

NINTH, I resolve to plan a group pilgrimage to the Holy Land, perhaps as early as next Christmas.

In practice, this will have to be very low-keyed and is somewhat dependent on our ministry partners and their needs. Like our annual Christian heritage week in Williamsburg during the week of July 4, this must be promoted in such a way that it does not interfere with our regular work.

TENTH, I resolve to relentlessly wage spiritual warfare against the enemy of my soul, recognizing the Jezebel spirit of our age whenever it appears and walk in victory against it.

In practice, this resolve is not so much an action but a consciousness that must be brought to bear in addressing many issues facing our rebellious generation. The spirit of the age is bent on perverting the order of Christian churches, family, marriages and gender relationships in a thousand ways. Our age wants Jesus as savior but not as judge and coming king—certainly not for his Kingdom rule to come in our everyday lives and family relationships.

In making these resolutions, I don’t for a minute think that I have the strength or power to fulfill them in my own strength but rely on God’s grace to perfect and help me walk in paths of righteousness and obedience to him. I welcome the prayers and support of others.

DR. BILL BRAY wants to see your list of New Year’s resolutions for 2008 – and to pray for you as your seek to implement them in your life and ministry. May you have the grace you need to stick with your goals just as you are praying for him to reach his.

The Brays are looking for new friends, prayer partners and financial supporters to sponsor them in their full-time missionary efforts to extend Christ’s Kingdom this year – and they want to support you in your life of faith just as your support them in theirs.

Tax-deductible contributions for the support of Bill & Ivy's Missionary Ministry may be given online, or should be sent to CIS, INC. MISSIONS, P.O. Box 6511, Charlottesville, VA 22906. THANK YOU.