A new year brings endless possibilities.
Is it this longing for things to be different that makes many of us set out with resolutions for change?
Resolution: the act or process of resolving, the act of determining, to resolve – to make a firm decision about, to deal with successfully, to clear up, to find an answer to.
“This year I will…” read my Bible every day, pray more, start a diet, exercise, be kinder, more loving, learn patience, clean out my closets, eat healthier, write and call my loved ones more often, get better at communicating God’s love with others.
Oh, we start out with such good intentions! What happens along the way that makes us drop the ball?
Recently my son shared with me that he has been reading Erwin McManus’ book, Uprising. He told me, “There’s a character matrix that the author describes – essentially that courage is born of integrity which is born of humility, generosity is born of wholeness which is born of gratitude, and that wisdom is born of perseverance which is born of faithfulness.”
When we pursue any of these characteristics (courage, generosity, wisdom) without going through the process of practicing integrity, becoming whole, and learning to persevere we fail in the areas of being humble, grateful and faithful.
Are you making resolutions for the New Year? Do you want to see changes begin to happen? Start by recognizing that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (1 Peter 1:3). And then “add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love” (1 Peter 1:5-7).
For – “if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.8). A New Year resolution takes determination – to change from the inside out.
Verse 10 promises ‘if you do these things you will never stumble’.
All for Him,
Missy