The new year always seems to bring a rash of resolutions; “I am going to start this . . . I am going to stop that . . . .”  The three top resolutions are, to lose weight, stop smoking, and get organized.  Those happen to be the three most popular resolutions every year. 

However, in just a few weeks into the year they begin to slip and then to slide until they are abandoned, and are a distant thought. I am going to ask you to join me in a fast for this New Year.  Not a fast from food, but a fast from news and social networking (facebook, twitter, etc.).  That’s right – a news and social networking (ouch!) fast for the month of January.  I have discovered that one thing that affects my attitude and temperament is the news.  We all know that so much of the news is so negative, discouraging, and defeating. It seems now that there is a constant, daily, almost hourly “Breaking News.”  We, like the nation, live on a heightened sense of alert.  Everything is a major disaster.  Well in all honesty, it is not.

We live so strung out, at a heightened level of anxiety, and at some point we snap.  We boil over in anger, irritability, and stay in a state of flux because of the barrage of bad news.

I also hear about people who stay up till two or three in the morning to update their facebook or myspace page and I think what a waste. 

There is an alternative and I think we the people of God should focus our attention on other things.  For just 31 days we can take charge of what we are listing to, what goes into our minds, and what we are watching and reading.  It will be fascinating to see how God will use this in our lives.

Instead of getting up in the morning and turning on the news (for me it is Fox & Friends) or checking your Facebook page to see who was up last night or is already awake, I want to encourage you to use that time to read, study, write, and pray.  While riding in my car instead of listening to talk radio, I am going to get a series of sermons and listen to them.

This is my New Year’s Resolution – no news for 31 days, I’m not much on the social networking thing any way so that won’t be to hard for me but, I will be watching many of you though.  The fact of the matter is I can’t solve the “Climate Change” (or lack thereof).  I have already made my views on health care known to my Senators (and anyone else that I thought should hear it).  I can’t contribute anything to the first bailout or any additional bailouts, except my tax dollars.  I cannot do anything about the war effort other than pray for our troops and our leaders.  I can’t do anything about those who are unemployed except pray for them and their families.  I can’t influence the value of the dollar.  None of us have one bit of an effect on Wall Street. So – why put myself through the misery of moment by moment news flashes about issues that only agitate me.  In my opinion, 50% of what we as a nation are going through is media induced fear.

To help you make it through your fast I am giving you a list of books that are positive, equipping, and will encourage and build up your faith:

Prayer That Works by Jill Briscoe

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
3:16 The Numbers of Hope by Max Lucado
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (This is a classic for those who want to be challenged)
Crazy Love by Francis Chan

The Potter’s Touch by Dr. Sam Sasser

I even have an 8 part cd series on prayer by Jill Briscoe that I can give to you and is also available online for you to download (see below) and listen to this month. You should be able to read through two or three of these in 31 days.  I am confident that less of the blaring, screaming, negative news that dampens our days and more time spent in devotional thought, reading, and prayer will change your attitude, spiritual life, and make 2010 far more successful than you can imagine.

Join me for this 2010 fast and fill your mind with some worthwhile information that will make a difference.

Jill Briscoe 8 part series on Prayer:

Part 1                      Part 2

Part 3                      Part 4

Part 5                      Part 6

Part 7                      Part 8