When I was in high school, I ran cross country and track -- long distance. I was good; some people said I was "great" but I don't think I ever reached that status because I was a head case. Haha. Seriously, though, when we were running against one or two schools, at a small "meet" when no one was around, I would win. Personal records, school records, fast times. But then the "big" meets would come along. Invitationals. State-qualifying meets. More PRs? Hmm. Not so much. I would freeze and jog and panic. Ugh. This resulted in perpetual goals. At this meet, I want to get a PR. At that meet, I want to qualify for State. At State, I want to make Top Ten. Those goals were oft missed and disappointment reigned. And I spent a fair amount of time beating myself up about it. Double ugh.
How like New Year's Resolutions is that? We make them and break them. But maybe it's because we are resolving the wrong things. We resolve to eat less and work out more. Stop smoking. Manage money better. Blog more (haha). Those are all good things, in this life. But as a Believer, aren't those the wrong things to resolve? It got me thinking about about what God would say about our resolutions. Here are some of the things I want for my family this year.
FORGIVE more. Matt. 18:21-23
Be HUMBLE. 1 Peter 5:5-6
GIVE more. Deut. 15:10
SERVE more. Matt. 25:34-46
Be more GENEROUS. 1 Tim. 6:17-19
Seek PEACE. Ps. 34:14
Be KIND(er). Luke 6:27-31
Be RESPONSIBLE. Col. 3:23
Who among us can reach these seemingly impossible standards? Scripture says, None of us; not even one. (Rom. 3:10) Which is what makes the next resolution sooooo important:
REPENT more. Jer. 31:19
Repent. Maybe the key to all of our resolutions is to REPENT when we fail to succeed on the first try. Repent and renew. Repent and start again. A new creation. Restarting and renewing, every. single. day. Lam. 3:22-23. "Run with endurance the race that is set before us. Fixing our eyes on JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith." Heb. 12:1-2.
So this year, rather than getting frustrated by "failing" at resolutions and throwing up my hands in disgust at myself, I am going to restart and renew and remember that Jesus paid the price for my failure long ago and that I don't need to pay it again.
Happy New Year, friends! May your family grow in the things that God resolves for us all.
