Resolute in God

As the New Year begins, many people make resolutions on changes they will make in their lives.  I believe if you have the constitution and willpower to actually keep your resolutions, it's likely you do not need to make them!  With how most people live, instead of saying you have made a "New Year's resolution," you might as well say "I wish."  There is a lot we all wish we could change about ourselves.  Trouble is, it takes a new calender year to inspire us to work for one change we desire or know we need.  And when the resolution has no impact except guilt because we haven't done our part, we sigh, shrug our shoulders and say to ourselves, "There's always next year..."  The devil would love for us to wait a year between efforts at change for the better.

Last night I had an interesting conversation about New Year's resolutions.  People were discussing how the New Year is a great opportunity for personal reflection upon the last year.  This is a very healthy response which should not be reserved for one day out of the year!  We must see our deficiencies before we will aim higher.  We can be very content in our failing, not even holding ourselves accountable for falling short of our low expectations!

The thing we must understand about changing ourselves is that we cannot do it!  It takes help from without to change within.  Why do you think support groups are so key for those recovering from substance abuse?  The trouble is the support group can become a substitute for the substance:  remove the support group and often the substance resumes the previous hold.  I am convinced that God is the only one who can truly change a person.  He changes our attitudes, hearts, desires, the way we think, and the things we desire to think about!  Our God has the capacity to transform us into a new creation.  There is no need for us to wait a year for this change:  He can do it in an instant when we ask humbly according to His perfect will.

I'm sure David did not wait years between his prayer in Psalm 139:23-24:  "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; [24] And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  It is good for us to always be continually reviewing our conduct and attitudes.  But the LORD is the one who searches our hearts.  He finds things to change that we didn't even know were there.  The great thing is instead of heaping upon ourselves condemnation, we receive grace, mercy, and communion with God.  Instead of making resolutions trusting an arm of flesh, let us cry out to the One who is steadfast and immovable, all-powerful and wise.  If there is any good change to be made in us God must be the Author and Finisher.  When God begins a good work He is faithful to complete it every time.