Are you keeping those resolutions?

You know I have to ask, and I am not meddling, I just want to do a little 'check-in' this morning. How are all those New Year's Resolutions going so far? How many have we already given up on? How many are we just putting forth half an effort toward? How many have we seen become a very consistent and ingrained part of our lives? If you are like the majority of 'resolution making' individuals, you have probably broken at least one! According to what I could find in research, approximately 40% of us make resolutions, while nearly 25% of those who made them will quit them within the first week! Sadly, only about 10% keep them long-term. I think that speaks very clearly to our 'resolve', doesn't it? 

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. (Galatians 5:16-18)

I don't know about you, but letting the Holy Spirit guide my life is a bit of a challenge at times. I get all wrapped up in what I think I can 'resolve' to do myself and don't have a clue just how hard it will be to keep that 'resolve' just a little piece down the road. If you have already broken that resolution, chances are you weren't relying upon the help of the Holy Spirit in either forming those goals, or in keeping them on a daily basis. 

Have you ever heard the expression, "Opposites attract"? In the most literal sense, opposites attract if you are magnets. If we were to consider this term in reference to our weak sinful nature and the powerful help of the Holy Spirit, we might see our issue with keeping our resolutions a bit differently. You see, God knows we will be attracted to things that we should be repelled from (sin). He also knows we need to be 'pulled' toward right living. Is it possible that the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives is able to 'attract' us toward making right choices? I think it just might be!

Pushed or pulled - it doesn't matter. We are moving in some direction hoping it is the right one. It the stronger we are to resist the pull of temptation, the more we will find ourselves 'enabled' to keep those resolutions. This might be the day we take a good look at those resolutions (goals) we have for the year and then take them to God in prayer, specifically asking him to allow his Holy Spirit to 'pull' us toward right choices that help us develop consistency with them. Just sayin!