New Year Resolutions
If you’re like many people - you make resolutions each year, only to find by the end of January (or the end of the week!), you’ve already blown it. Why do we seem to fail so miserably at resolutions? I believe, in part, it could be our heart motive behind those resolutions.
Without a doubt, the most common resolution we hear about is losing weight. With America’s obesity crisis on the rise, this would be a good resolution to stick to; but it’s difficult to break bad habits and start new, good habits. So the resolution itself is good - but our heart attitude is off. We really want to lose the weight, but we don’t relish the hard work and effort we know it will take to make that happen.
Years ago, I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions. If I felt the Lord leading me to change or correct something, I didn’t wait until New Year’s Day to put it into action. Am I always successful at everything the Lord tells me to? I wish I could say yes, but the truth is - No, I’m not. Why? Because I’m a sinner. I am not perfect and I am still a work in progress.
So what’s my rambling point? :) My one resolution and goal for this coming year is to grow even deeper in my walk with the Lord. I want to more fully and intimately know him. I have looked back on 2006 and while it’s been a blessed year, it’s also been one of my most stressful. I find myself busier than I ever wanted to be and that busyness has left me tired, stressed and not digging into the Word like I used to. You will also notice a drastic drop in articles by me here on the T2CHK web site. I’ve been active in ministry, but so side-tracked with other responsibilities, I have not taken the time to contribute articles like I have in the past and really would like to. I read my Bible - and I do pray and hear from the Lord, but it’s not as close a relationship as it used to be - and it’s my fault. I let life get in the way of what should always have been my first priority: my relationship with Christ.
Now, it wouldn’t kill me to lose about 15 pounds, do some more organizing on my home, take more time of solace, prayer and just quietness; but I know that the root of all the good things I want/need to do will come after I first seek God and put Him first above all else. My heart was seeking worldly things before the one heavenly relationship I needed to accomplish that which I need (spiritual growth) and want (lose weight, organize my life, etc…). No wonder I was stressed and tired! I was trying to do all these things! I can only do all things through Christ who strengthens me, if I let Christ strengthen me. I was leaving out the important element in my plans: Christ!
So I’m breaking with my normal tradition of not setting a New Year’s Resolution - and I’m setting one now. The year 2007 is going to be a year of rest, less stress and spiritual growth for me. I know this is what God is calling me to - and without this step, nothing else will get done that I want. I must first do what I need to do.
Is God calling you to do something? Get your priorities in order and all else will come in God’s timing. I pray God abundantly blesses you in 2007.
In Him,
Traci
