New Years just happened and we all know what that means… “resolutions”. Now I have never been one to make a resolution, I decided a long time ago that it was silly and I would not take part in that. That came mostly out of two factors: 1. I saw everyone doing something and then failing 2. Everyone made these resolutions and I didn’t want to be like everyone else. Awesome reasoning for me not to take part, I know. However this year I cracked, actually I cracked on Jan. 2 when I came up with resolution(s) that I set for myself for this upcoming year. Why, I don’t have a good answer for to be honest but I thought they were good resolutions; no pizza and no fast food for an entire year. Lofty, possibly, attainable, definitely.
Now before Jan. 1 at 12am I was still in the mindset that these resolutions were foolish and that everyone makes these goals then falls short only making things worse on themselves. As I thought about this in days before the New Year I wondered what goal could I set that would be something I would most certainly fall short of but I could still feel good about? Improvements anywhere I thought would make this happen but then it finally hit me, my non-new years resolution resolution.
Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular verse, it’s on that I wore on a necklace for some time before it broke, its on coffee mugs, bumper stickers, and many other places I’m not mentioning. After getting that necklace I continued to read in Jeremiah and the next few verses were intriguing (go read them). In 29:13 it reads “you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (NIV) or “if you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (NLT). In reading this verse I thought my resolution was set “seek God wholeheartedly in everything I do”. Perfect right?
I had also recently heard a verse for the first time that was in Romans (4:5) that says “but people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners”. I restructured because most certainly I will fall short and experience failure: “I will seek God wholeheartedly in everything I do because I want to be found righteous in His eyes.” Now I’m set?
Wrong again, I then went back to what made me read Jeremiah 29:13 in the first place, v11! Read it. Dang! I had left God out of my “resolution”, I had acted as so many do, thinking that they alone can make a change. I was acting as a one-man team without a Coach, giving myself direction and seeking no assistance. So once again I restructured: “Because He has set a plan for my life that is meant for my good I will seek Him wholeheartedly in everything I do so that I may be found righteous in His eyes.”
Honestly, this process could go on and on I’m sure, but that’s where I stopped. That is where I want to set my focus each day I get up and every time I enter into a situation/setting. So many times I leave Him out and think I can do things on my own and it leaves me empty and looking for more or the next. I hope that instead you and I can both be reminded of the promises that He has given us and from that we will not forget what is happening right now around us. Seeking and drawing near to Him every chance we get because He has great things for us.
As always, love the feedback. I’d even love to hear the New Years resolutions you all made this year. As I said earlier I made one so if you’re interested, don’t be shy!
Much love
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