I don't do resolutions - they don't last and most of them are just "surface worldly" items that really don't mean much. Ones that won't really make a difference in the long run. Ones that don't make me grow.
I did consider "one word" for this year. Had never heard of it before a few days ago. Even looked at one and did a bit of research on the word. The notes from others said once you chose a word you will "see" it everywhere - it will be "all over" - you will "hear" it "speaking" to you. This did not happen for me. As a matter of fact I forgot all about it for 2 whole days, telling me this was not what I should be doing. I thought of even changing it up a bit since one word for a whole year seemed not right somehow - too long maybe? I was thinking what happens when the word moves into another attribute of God He wants me to have - do I need to wait until next year to do that word? And what if there are 2 words?
Oh the confusion and the mixed messages I am creating in my head!!
I used to tell everyone that I only have one resolution - to not make any resolutions! I think this is a good one for all those "surface worldly" resolutions we tend to make. However, I think there may be a more important resolution to make. One we can make every single day, not just at the beginning of January every year.
Resolve to spend more time with God - on a daily basis. If you only make this resolution at the beginning of January, you will never keep it - and ultimately feel like a failure. This resolution needs to be made everyday. Every morning when you wake up. Every time you pray over your food. When you are just "sitting there" starring into space. Instead of watching that re-run of your "absolute favorite tv show." Just before you fall asleep at night.
I play with this thought in the back of my mind. It comes and goes and my response to it differs. I think the Spirit uses it as a little prick for me to pay attention, or a brick when I need to respond.
""Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 ESV)""
"Ceasing" means without stopping. This doesn't mean you have to be on your knees every minute of every day praying. What it means is that everything you do needs to be a prayer and testimony to God. You still need to be on your knees or on your face praying, but you also need to make everything else you do a prayer to God. The book(s) you read, the links you click on the internet, the tv shows you watch, to food you eat, the job you do, the things you spend your money on.
This is my resolution. "Spend more time with God practicing 1 Thessalonians 5:17 -
Knowing with Certainty that 1 Thessalonians 5:24 is right behind it."
I will be taping it on my
monitor. On my fridge. In my car. On my mirror in the bathroom. So many
places because I don't want to ever forget. And because God is
everywhere we are. He even beats us there - to wherever we are going or
whatever we are doing.
My prayer is that you listen to the prick, or the brick, of the Spirit in 2012.
