Billy Graham: Your New Year’S Resolutions Won’T Work Unless Your Heart Is First Changed
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Deliver To: Deliver Billy Graham: Your New Year’s Resolutions Won’t Work Unless Your Heart is First Changed New Year’s resolutions are all ery year, but just 8% are successful in achieving their well and good - but mean nothing resolution. without a changed heart. “We simply don’t have the inner strength to carry That’s according to evangelist them out,” he said when asked why our resolutions eld Avenue fi Billy Graham, who, in a recent often fail. “Temptations come, and we give into them; advice column posted by the Billy discipline is required, but we’d rather do what’s easi- Graham Evangelistic Association, est. What’s right is clear to us, but we give into the shared why so many Americans fail at keeping their pressure of the crowd. Even the Apostle Paul experi- A ministry of Assn ProBuColls 9733 W Green Milwaukee WI 53214 Milwaukee New Year’s resolutions. In fact, according to statistics, enced this inner moral and spiritual weakness: ‘I have 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions ev- the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out’ Change Service Requested (Romans 7:18).” Continued on page 3 Page 2 January & February 2017 IT’S A NEW YEAR – HOW ABOUT A NEW ME – A NEW YOU – AND A NEW EVERTHING! by John Fisco Everyone always thinks of some time? Oh, you say the card costs too much. Not so, free Christmas New Year resolutions. Billy cards are available by calling 414-344-7300. Start NOW to be a Graham’s article on the blessing to those you know. People are too “stand-offi sh”. You send front page talks about a text, or Facebook-brag, or e-mail. Get personal – sit down and ex- this. And you must ad- press your feelings and gratitude for your relationships. Careful, the mit, the intentions are shock may be too great for some people, but worth a try. ALWAYS good, but as Try journaling. Some people are real good at this. Write a letter to history shows, not too God each day in your journal. Wow – what a difference that could much lasts. Here are make in your life. Try a prayer list. Make a list of all the people you a few thoughts. Ev- can’t really talk to but you can pray for them. Long list – pray for ery Thanksgiving and some each day. Some people need correction that you can’t touch – Christmas you hear of all but you can pray for them and remember God can do anything. A the food drives, taking place. person recently said the ex-one in the marriage was too terrible to Just about every radios and TV station has a even pray for. Wow, since when is God limited to what He can do. big food drive, then, it’s over with. Do people not need Satan loves to shut down the prayer requests than he has more pow- food the other ten months of the year? Oh, yes, a small food pantry er and keeps more people away from their relationship with God. here and there, but no big food drives otherwise. What do we do to Praying for your government offi cials? God’s command! change, thank, and keep feeding those in need all year long? Serve in a soup line once a year. Why not once a month? The food line We could go on and on, such as lose weight; save money; stop texting doesn’t shut down. But, we did our annual charity “thing”. Many in church; get along better with those I work with; love my neighbors people state they don’t send Christmas cards anymore. Why? Just more; tithe more; obey the speed limits as posted; and have a jolly think, a forty nine cent stamp to keep in touch even once a year to good laugh more often. old friends, those in other cities, past associates, school friends, etc. Are we too good to be a blessing through a simple card at Christmas God bless you abundantly this great New Year. AAndnd hhee tthathat ssatat uuponpon tthehe tthronehrone ssaid,aid, BBehold,ehold, I mmakeake aallll tthingshings nnew.ew. 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Main St Suite 8 Mon - Fri 6:30 am-5 pm Waukesha, WI 53188 ISSN: 0749-1077 (414) 228-5220 x212 (262) 574-0034 January & February 2017 Page 3 Continued from page 1 This is one reason why we need Christ, the evangelist contended: Simply making “When we put our lives into His hands, He comes to live within us resolutions like by His Holy Spirit and begins to change us from within. He gives us “I need to love a new desire to do what’s right, and a new power to carry it out. The my children more” Bible’s words are true: ‘The Spirit helps us in our weakness’ (Romans won’t work, he said: 8:26).” “You can’t fi ght your way into a feeling. You must change As 2017 begins, let’s not drift aimlessly through another year, but the way you think about your kids, about your husband, about rather turn to Jesus Christ and commit our lives to Him. your wife, and that will change the way you feel, which will then “God loves you, and Christ gave His life for you,” Graham said. “Why change the way you act.” not give Him your life in return? Not only will He help you cast off Warren argued that you are not what you think you are; instead, the bad habits and sins of the past, but He’ll also give you a new de- what you think, you are. sire to live as you should. Open your heart to Christ today.” “The battle to deal with those defects in your life that you don’t like Another prominent religious leader, Saddleback Church Pastor Rick starts in your mind,” he says. “If you want to change anything in your Warren, also encouraged those hoping to stick to their resolutions behavior or anything in your emotions, start with your thoughts and this year to fi rst change the way they think, which in turn will change your attitude.” their hearts. He concluded Changing the way you think will then affect your emo- “The battle for sin starts in your mind, not in your behavior,” he tions and your behavior. When I repent, I turn from guilt to forgive- wrote in a recent devotional post. “The way you think determines ness. I turn from Hell to Heaven. I turn from purposelessness to pur- the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act.