Saturday, January 1, 2011

Resolve

New Years' Resolutions are made to be broken.

Well, maybe not made to be broken....I think most people actually think--year after year--that "This time, I'm going to stick with this!  I'm gonna do it!!"
 
But it seems like those things we were so resolute to do on January first simply fall by the wayside after about six weeks or so.

Take that guy that wants to start working out more.  Because of him (and the 100 other guys who also have the same idea) your gym is going to be so overcrowded on January third that you may just end up walking the track for a couple of weeks--due to lack of finding a piece of nautilus equipment to use.

Never fear, however.  Just hang in there until after Valentine's Day. Then, those 'resolvers' will have run out of steam and you'll be able to find a stairmaster again during the evening hours.

Or, that gal that wants to be more organized.  January second she'll head to the Container Store to get some things to help her organize all her clutter.  Bins for this, tubs for that.  "It's gonna be great!  A place for everything and everything in. it's. place."  She'll be able to find it all--all the time!  She'll get the totes and the bins and the crates home, maybe even start to figure out where to put all....that......junk.........

.....but generally, by the end of January, stuff is back in piles on her desk. She can't locate her keys, she doesn't know where the checkbook is, and for the love--what did she do with the power bill that was due yesterday?

I know this.  Because, in the past, I am that guy.  I am that gal.  Not necessarily with the working out or the organizational issues--but other things.

I've done well on resolutions some years. But many of them I have failed. Miserably.

I think I've finally figured out why, though. It's not at all profound, and you may have figured it out already.  (Good for you, by the way, if you have--I wished you'd shared with me a few years ago. May have saved me some headaches. *grin*)

I'm not resolving to do the things that God would have me to be doing.

Weight issues, food issues, organization, health-consciousness, being a better steward of money or a better parent or a better scripture memorizer--all of these are good things to be focused on.  Good things to want to change. Some of them are on my list this year.

The thing that is missing, of course, is the strength given to me by God to do what He would actually have me to do.

HIS agenda. Not my own.

I know I am not the only woman, the only mom, who feels like there are just not enough hours in the day sometimes.  I could go every single hour of my day doing 'things that have to be done' and they would never all be accomplished. A new morning comes at the same time each day, with a fresh list of responsibilities.

If we are doing our own thing in our own strength, we are going to fail. Days are hard. Life is difficult. And we need God's help and supernatural strength if we are going to be able to get through each day, each week, each year.

I am coming to realize that many of those things that have to get done do not, in fact, have to get done.

So, I am resolving to simply ask God for the strength to accomplish what He wants from me each day.

To begin each day in prayer and quality quiet time.....

....and,  after listening for awhile, make my agenda from there.

Some of 'my' stuff will get done. Some of it won't.  I am resolving to be okay with that.

It doesn't matter how long my list of things-to-do still is at the end of the day; or how many things have gone unfinished or unaccomplished.  As long as I have accomplished what I know God wanted from me, then I am determined to consider that day an overwhelming success. 

I will have lived out my New Year's Resolution.

In full.


9 comments:

Jenny said...

GREAT post!!!

Bethany @ Our 4 Sons Plus 1...Super Cute Girly Girl said...

Beautiful post!!

Leanne said...

Ah HA!!!

I just had that "light coming on" moment.

I seriously never thought about resolutions from that angle before. I feel kinda dumb, to tell you the truth, because reading your post was like, "oh yeah!"

I usually never make New Year's resolutions because I know how I am at sticking to any kind of list or agenda. But this year, I just sense that God wants me to work on having the law of kindness on my tongue, and the way I speak.

That's it. His resolution for me for 2011.

Kara said...

Good word friend! I don't usually make resolutions, but idk desire to draw closer to Him this year, get rid of somuch of our "stuff", and live on less! Happy New Year girl!


Can we resolve to meet up this year:). Hee Hee!!!!

Monkee said...

Amen! :) Thanks for stopping by my blog as well :)

Nancy said...

Thank you for such an insightful post, Devin. I needed that reminder! ((hugs))

Faith said...

Great resolution!
I love it.
It reminds me of a teaching from Nancy Leigh Demoss that I heard on the radio.

"All I have to do is find out what is the work that God has given me to do—and do it! So ask the Lord at the start of your day to direct your day, to order your steps. Then, throughout the day, be listening."

The series is called First Things First and it can be found here

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/roh/past_programs.php?topic_name=Priorities

It started on 12/27 and ended on 12/31.

I hope you enjoy it as it will validate many of the things you said in your post.

God Bless!!

Amanda Hoyt said...

Amen! You are an awesome woman of God, Devin! You are a true testament to His healing power as well as an encouragement to others (like me) who worry, question, and fail each and everyday at things that we SHOULD be doing (quiet time is my downfall) and what WE think we should be doing. What a wonderful post this is - a great reminder to me to TRUST Him unconditionally.
Love you, sister!

Carolyn said...

We ARE on the same page...I just got back from our wonderful trip to Canada and had a chance to read back on some of your posts that I missed while away. Love what you say here....and I am cheering for you to be victorious daily. Cheer for me too :) Happy 2011 - one day at a time.