New Year’s Resolutions Posted on January 2, 2010 By pamela It happens every year. I resolve to do this or that thing – more or less or better or not at all. In addition to those resolves, I always think there’s something unique or particularly inspiring about the New Year. New Year. New calendar. New date book. New pages for the notebook — yes, as antiquated as it is and it remains, my palm pilot, my blackberry, my iphone, my lapbook, etc., etc is, simply: a spiral bound notebook of lined paper in which I write notes, message, recipes, web addresses, grocery lists, quotes, Scripture verses. And doodles. Another thing coincidentally happens. I sort of secretly resolve to not resolve to do anything new/better/different/again. Well, except to lose weight, read through my Bible, spend more time in prayer, spend more time with my family, exercise, read more, write a book, blog more regularly… It’s like I attempt to trick myself into complying with new (actually, old – but recycled) resolutions. I do this by saying I’m not going to make any *written* resolutions. I say: I’m just going to do a few things better. Two days into the New Year’s Resolutions new year I’ve already had some recalibrating (I got that one from President Obama). I’m recalibrating several things. My time schedule, bedtime schedule, weightloss, exercise routines and Bible reading. My-o-my is it ever easy to set lofty goals on December 30th. You know, when the resolve to not eat any more Christmas goodies is strongly in place — you know, bcz you’re sort of full & tired of them — that, and the New Year looks far off!! And doable. It’s easy to sort of smugly think you’ll do so much better with the new year on the horizon — that, and a new decade, too! So, if you’ve already had to readjust or recalibrate the expectations/resolves you put on your self or things you wrote down on a scrap of paper. Know that you’re not alone. Studies show that something like 10-12% of “resolvers” ever keep those resolutions anyway. That’s not saying that you shouldn’t strive for bettering yourself or that you shouldn’t regroup and get back up and keep on keeping on… it just means that you’re not alone. There are a bunch of other people who’re commiserating with you on this one. So, my solution? My advice to you (and to myself)? What does the LORD require of thee? Ask Him… He is ready to answer you. His Word says that He has shown you what is good and what He requires of you (Micah 6.8): “…But to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.” May He richly bless you, keep you, direct you and joy over you with singing in this new year! with love, pamela Potpourri Devotionalsmy story
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Just wanted to request prayer for our family if you would Mrs. Spurling. I have been working through some issues (that I have shared via email with you before) and am struggling in some ways regarding forgiveness. I would appreciate it. Your sister in Christ, Ouida Gabriel
Last year probably was one of the hardest years I have ever had. I struggled greatly for most of the year in my belief in God as well as humanity. In October I finally gave in to whatever it is that Christ is doing to me. I still find myself fighting it sometimes because it hurts to change. I see that I have to let Christ control me or I am quite useless to Him. The one thing I really learned in the last few months is that God does love me. No matter what happens in this world, I am going to be alright. I also finally decided to put away old relationships. I won’t let them hurt my husband, children or myself any longer. My family is better off without people who don’t really love us. That said, I resolve to put more effort into relationships that nourish me and let go of relationships that tear me down. I resolve to focus on Christ and what he expects from me. After 2009 being the year of Job for me and realizing that God does indeed love me, I figure that 2010 is going to be a amazing year. I hope that 2010 is a beautiful year for you as well Mrs. Spurling. Mrs. Damian Garcia – Ouida Gabriel
AN excellent post dear friend…thanks for bringing into FOCUS the best things. I love you dear one, C~
You are right about how we tend to start promising to do better as the old year comes to an end. Guilt. Oswald Chambers ended the year with Isaiah 52:12: “You shall not go out with haste….for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard”. Meaning that God requires an account of what is past. That has been my experience this past week, failures looming. Chambers continues by saying that ‘God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present’. He goes before you…. This is a gracious revelation – that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. This really encourages me, in a new way this year. It isn’t me making resolutions which require me to do what I can’t do, so much as seeking His face and resting in His going before me; eating and drinking to His glory and not to my own. You always are so encouraging, Pam.
What a nice post! I am planning to lose weight but something even more important to me is a decision with the Lords help, to do things ON PURPOSE. I am increasingly convicted of just sailing by on my “lazy river” and I feel like I’m just getting by. I’m not living INTENTIONALLY to do as much as God wants me to do, even in encouraging someone else. So, that’s my goal. To live ON PURPOSE the things that Jesus would have me do and to be….with HIS help, of course, because without Him we are ALL nothing, right?