I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions. Don't get me wrong I am all about watching your life closely. I just happen to think it should happen more than once a year and with a good deal more follow through than the typical New Years' Resolution usually receives. After all, Paul instructs via the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 4:16 "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." Of course in context Paul is writing his beloved child in the faith Timothy who is ministering to God's flock. Certainly though this truth has application for us in 2010. We want to be women who watch over the affairs of our life with care knowing that there is much at stake. We are not pastors, but we are women whom God has called, gifted, & entrusted a great deal to. How we do life & how we teach matter because these are the things that will lead people to growth & even salvation by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The question at hand is will we be faithful with what has been entrusted?
You see, I think I've discovered something far better than a New Years' resolution...Jesus' redemption & life changing power. This is what I mean, what if instead of making a resolution to lose ten pounds, be a better person, or do more...what if you made a total heart, mind, life shift? What if you went at the year seeking to obey Jesus out of the great love you have for Him? Instead of focusing on your physical body and seeking to achieve some worldly standard of good looks, what if you focused on your stomach not becoming your god and even worship Jesus as you exercise? What if the motivation was that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, so you're going to make a shift in what you put inside of it so that your body can be better equipped to serve & love Jesus? What if you decided to saturate yourself with God's Word and determined to memorize a chapter of Scripture (this is a personal passion, memorizing passages of His Word, not just a verse here and there) so that you may not sin against God? How different would your year be then and not just your year but your life in general? Maybe, just maybe, if we didn't focus on being more productive but focused on sitting with Jesus and discerning & proving what His will is we'd find that busyness is not godliness. And we're far more "productive" walking in the path He has ordained for us than we are running around like chicken with our head cut off, you know what I'm saying? What if your aim was redirected toward heaven and focused on Jesus not on earthly things?
My prayer is that this resonates with you...this change in thinking. And don't get me wrong if you want to make a New Years' resolution that's just fine, but I'd rather Christ make a life change. I think if you accept this challenge...a slight but certain shift in thinking...your 2010 would be far different.
Don't just make a New Years' Resolution. Ask Jesus to change your entire life!
