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!

Resolution Number One...

It is that time of year again when people break out their journals, begin to capture their list of New Year's resolutions, fully intent on carry out each and every one of them. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have done it, but trust me on this one - it has been a futile effort, so I just don't do it anymore! Probably one of the best I have come across in recent years is this one:  "Resolution One: I will live for God.  Resolution Two:  If no one else does, I still will." (Johnathan Edwards found on www.brainyquotes.com)  You might think it a current quote of this English clergyman, but he died in 1758! I might suggest it is a great couple of resolutions to begin our year! 

People do their best making plans for their lives, but the Eternal guides each step. (Proverbs 16:9 VOICE)

We have all kinds of plans, but we often lack the clarity of mind or heart to actually fulfill those plans.  Why?  We "plan big", not knowing the details required to accomplish our plans, then find ourselves in over our heads when we come to seeing the fulfillment of those plans.   Our plans require our actions, so this is probably the biggest reason they don't quite get to the place of completion some of the time!  I find it is much easier to let God help me with the plans - they usually tend to be much more attainable in the long run!

The idea of "resolutions" is okay, but the "excitement" of making them doesn't always match with equal excitement when it comes to actually living out those resolutions.  As with anything we undertake in life, these resolutions have the potential to give us more anxiety and stress because they are planned by us, not the Eternal!  If we are going to make resolutions this year, we should first consult the one who already knows what the year will hold for us!  Although we may not see each step clearly at the beginning of the year, he can guide us into making realistic and attainable goals for our year.

A lot of people set out to read the entire Bible through in a year, purchasing one of those "read these chapters this day" kind of Bibles.  It is a worthwhile "reading plan" as God's Word is a great thing to actually "take into" our lives.  The problem is that when we get to the "dry stuff" of Leviticus, Numbers, and even some of the minor prophets with all the recorded history of Israel and Judah, we get a little less enthused about the reading plan!  It might even become the place we abandon the resolution - making it another year with an unattained goal.  It wasn't unattainable - it was just not attained.

It would be much better to share with God our intention to study his Word - to actually share with him our desire to get a little bit of it into us each and every day.  Then we need to ask him for the ability to do it, but ask him to help us get excited about what it is we are taking in - not just taking it in for the sake of putting a check mark on the page-a-day calendar!  I find the best way to get into the Word is just to let God direct me to the place he wants me for the day - it may be a place I "visit" quite often, such as the Book of Romans or Proverbs, but it is "our" place, so it is a "good place".  Don't miss that my friend - when God helps me with the plan, takes me to the place where I "belong" that day, it becomes "our place" - a time of communion.

My prayer for you this year is that you find your place of communion with God each day - not in the rigid, determined study of the Word, but in the place of enjoyable discovery of what he unfolds to you.  I have found God doesn't meet me in the "much", but in the "wee bit" he brings alive in me.  I pray you will discover the excitement of this experience, as well. Just prayin!