Never join a gym in January. You can’t get on any of
the machines and the parking lots are always full. No, much better to wait
until February when you’ll get all kinds of discounts and the workout equipment
and parking spots will be vacant. It would appear that people tend to lose
their resolve faster than their excess weight.
So, what do you resolve this year? What changes do
you wish to see in your life?
I, for one, never make New Year’s resolutions. As a
youngest child, and as a competitive person, I don’t like to fail at things. So
why on earth would I commit myself to change something that I haven’t been able
to make happen in the previous 365 days? On January 1st, does my
entire DNA suddenly align differently giving me new miraculous abilities to
overcome horrible ingrained habits?
No?
For most of us, it takes a strong desire, or
critical health issue, to make such changes.
To think we change with a flip of the calendar would be downright silly.
Not so silly is the decision to start the New Year
with a fresh commitment to the Lord; to resolve to honor His name and to listen
and seek His face in obedience each day.
That is the key to all worthwhile change, His Spirit
living within us. After all, the fruit of the Spirit is actually a great
listing of most of the character flaws that we need help with in order to see
any positive, external changes in our lives:
But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)
So we should take time alone on New Year’s Day,
asking God to direct our paths, to transform us, and to stir up a renewed
fervency for our First Love.
Lord,
we thank You for this fresh, new year, full of promise. Please help us to walk
in Your light, allowing your Holy Spirit to make the changes You desire in our
hearts as we resolve to honor You and Your name in all that we do. Amen.
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