The Final Call

God-Centered New Year’s Resolutions!

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With the end of 2012, which has been somewhat of a tumultuous year for many Americans and a disheartening and disappointing year for many Blacks, we have to ask ourselves; what are we going to do differently in 2013? The previous year is behind us; we’ve made mistakes, broken promises, and have fallen down. But, we have also learned that the Black man and woman are resilient. We will rise again, because the cream always rises to the top.

The year 2012 was full of global death, uprisings, war, and bloodshed. A suicide bomber recently killed 53 and injured 130 in Basra, Iraq. Tens of thousands of people were stranded by floods in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland. Toyota recalled 700,000 vehicles over safety concerns.

We witnessed the largest protest in Quebec’s history which occurred in Montreal with over 200,000 people marching against government tuition hikes and for free access to post-secondary education.

'Be like the caterpillar, which through pressure and pain eventually evolves into a beautiful butterfly. Your past does not define you; you are still growing, learning and evolving.'

Teachers in Chicago went on strike effecting 350,000 students, and other cities followed suit.

Earthquakes ravaged the world from Indonesia, to Northern Italy, Afghanistan, Guatemala and Burma.

Hurricane Sandy formed in the West Caribbean and passed through Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti causing millions of dollars in damages and claiming lives. Eventually hitting the New Jersey shore and surrounding areas, the superstorm killed 110 people and cost $50 billion in damages.

Then the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre touched the country with a young gunman allegedly taking the lives of innocent children and staff. Perhaps, among other things, this will have us all rethinking putting prayer and God back into schools.

Too many more sad events have happened that there is not enough space to mention it here.

The point is that life is short; we never know what tomorrow will bring, so we should honestly do our best every day to be better people.

Whatever our dreams and goals were in 2012, whatever reason we didn’t fulfill them, we can’t enter into a new year with regrets. We must be determined to see our dreams and goals come into fruition in the New Year.

Send your desires, wishes, and hopes out into the universe, believe that they will come true, and trust in Almighty God, that if your desires align with his will, you will be successful in whatever endeavor you choose.

A New Year brings with it second chances. Let’s strive to become better communicators, perform random acts of kindness, mend broken relationships, find reconciliation with those who have wronged us, and beg forgiveness for those we have wronged.

Let go of all the pain, the hurt, disappointment and heartache that is weighing you down. Be like the caterpillar, which through pressure and pain eventually evolves into a beautiful butterfly. Your past does not define you; you are still growing, learning and evolving.

It’s always the darkest right before the dawn, so whether your resolutions are the same as they were last year—tell yourself this is your year to shine, to get it right. Be it losing weight, or improving your dietary habits, you will and can succeed. You may be resolved to put that expensive gym membership to good use, go after that promotion at work, have a baby or get married. Envision yourself getting that new job, buying that new house, starting your own business, going back to school or just being a better mother, sister or friend. It is all in your power. It is within reach. Affirm it within yourself.

The African Hebrew Israelite Nation celebrates the New Year on the first day of spring, symbolizing new life coming out of the cold death of winter.

Regardless of what religion we ascribe to, what name we may call the Creator, Supreme Being, Allah, Jah, Elohim, Elaha, Braham, OM, Jehovah or Yahweh, we are one family, one Ummah or community.

We are the children of God, our Father, who has promised us in Matthew 6:33, that seek ye first the kingdom of god, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added onto you.

I’m a bearer of witness that my God lives, and has promised us money, good homes, luxury, and friendships in all walks of life.

As believers in Christ we must understand that our trials are meant for purification, and we have to go through tests in order to have a testimony! So while we are contemplating our New Year’s Resolutions, put God at the center, and see how it works out! Success is the only option when God truly is the head of your life.

Lin Yutang, a Chinese writer and inventor said, “Thoreau once thought the moon was larger over the United States than over the Old World, the sky bluer, the stars brighter, the thunder louder, the rivers longer, the mountains higher, the prairies vaster, and he mystically concluded that the spirit of man in America should be larger and more expansive ‘else why was America discovered?’ Thoreau was wrong, and Thoreau was right. There is no value in life except what you bring to it yourself.”

Laila Muhammad is a Chicago-based writer and videographer.