New Year Resolution?

     Happy New Year! January is the time of year when everyone talks about resolutions. I think it is because the beginning of a new year makes us think about new beginnings in our lives. Most people’s resolutions have something to do with quitting smoking, exercise, or losing weight. You will see the TV programs bombarded with commercials for eating programs, gym membership, diet pills, and smoking aides. People also make resolutions to be better with finances, work on careers, get more education, have a better attitude, volunteer, etc. The problem with resolutions is that only 12% actually achieve them. I think there are several reasons for this.
     One, resolutions have to come from the heart, or God’s conviction. Two, you have to be committed to the process, not a quick fix. And three, it can’t be to please people or the world. It has to be a decision you make in order to be all God created you to be.
When I was teaching a group of women in Montana, God gave me a new twist on New Year resolutions and of course, I passed it on! That is why I am going to challenge you not to make a typical, worldly, New Year resolution. However, I am going to challenge you to make a spiritual resolution with God.
     Here is how you do it. You pray until God reveals to you the area He wants you to focus on for the next year. Maybe He already has and you know what it is. Let me point out a few things about this assignment. Your resolution comes from God, not you, not others, and not the world. This is something you will work with God on for the next year. Not a week, not a month, but a whole year! The goal is to let God continue His molding process on you. To grow you into what He needs you to be. After you get your spiritual goal for the year, find a scripture that speaks to you in regards to your goal. Now this doesn’t mean that this will be the only lesson God teaches you this year or that this will be the only thing you will work on. You will be surprised how many different goals come from your main resolution. For example, for many years now God told me to focus on my self-discipline. For me, it has been a goal He continued to give me; year after year. Maybe it is because it took me so many years to make any progress.
Now, I just have one more step for you. The research which showed that only 12% succeed at their resolutions also showed that women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends. So, make it public.  You can share it with a friends and then you can support each other and pray for each other or you could list it on the comment section.  We are to encourage each other so don't try and do it alone!  What is your spiritual resolution for 2011?

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions,

give it all you’ve got,

be resolute, and love without stopping.

1 Corinthians 16: 13