New Year's Resolutions...

Let's face it. I am not good at these.

As far as promises go, I've broken way more than I've kept. And good intentions, they say a certain road is paved with them. Oh, sure, I am going to try, but you know, it's easy to let things slide after a while.

Promises I've made to myself are usually the first to go. Let's see, there's exercising, flossing, organizing... to name a few. I'll probably start for the umpteenth time, to read the Bible in a year, and for the umpteenth time, give up around Numbers, if not, Exodus.

People make resolutions to improve themselves somehow. I mean, that's why I make them. Though, why is it that neglecting improvement is easier? And why is it that after I've broken whatever it is, I feel so discouraged? That's hardly an improvement, and in fact I usually feel worse than I did before I made the resolution in the first place. Discouragement. That's no way to live. This year, I resolve to live free of discouragement.

Resolute means "to be firm and unwavering."

Though I may not be resolute in all ways at all things, I have a God who is. He is resolutely merciful and forgiving even though I forget to floss, or skip my Bible reading for the day, or eat more chocolate than I'd intended. There is, therefore, now no condemnation, for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

This year I resolve to be resolute in seeing my things as God sees them, with a little more mercy and a little more forgiveness.

The other thing is that this year I am going to make my resolutions not of my wavering strength, but this time, lean on the One who is strong. I resolve to let my resolve come from Him. Only through Him, trusting Him, abiding in His perfect will for me, can I get past February.

P.S. I also need to remember that I need to make resolutions that aren't for my glory, but for His purposes. Nothing I've ever done to give myself glory has ever been successful. Yes, that includes reading the Bible in a year. I think so often I take up the task to say I've done it, not for the learning, growing, and the relational (the-spending-time-with-God) aspect of it.

What are your resolutions this year? What are you doing to make them stick?

My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26