Monday, January 2, 2017

A New Resolution

New Year's Eve promises always sound hopeful and optimistic but in reality most New Year's resolutions fail and we are left feeling unsatisfied with ourselves year after year after year. We are always so well-intentioned. So why do we end up disappointing ourselves each and every time we make these resolutions? The answer is quite simple.

The reason we fail to keep our New Year's resolutions is easy to see. Look at the resolutions pictured above. With the exception of one of the resolutions, maybe two, all of them are about "self." The biggest opponent we face in completing our New Year's resolution goals will be ourselves and our own selfish desires.

Did you know that there is one New Year's resolution that will leave us satisfied EVERY year? There is. Any ideas what it could be? A clue can be found in 2 Peter 1:3. Look!

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." - 1 Peter 1:3

God has already given us everything we need!

Hey, wait a minute. If God has given us everything we need, why do we want so much other stuff beyond what we already have? Verse 4.

"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." - 2 Peter 1:4

That brings us to what should be our first and best New Year's resolution - to know God more. When we get to know God and His promises we begin to shift our focus away from ourselves and towards God. And THAT will ALWAYS lead us away from many of the things we usually make resolutions about.

Do you desire God? I mean REALLY desire Him? Why don't you try something different this year, whether you already know Him or not. Make a New Year's resolution this year to know Him more. You will NOT be disappointed if you do. If we can do just that one thing we will be well on our way to having a better year on 2017.

Do You Desire God? - Paul Washer

[Special thanks to Pastor Dave Goyke - Calvary Chapel - Waupaca, WI, for providing the "push" to write this story through the message he delivered yesterday.]

No comments:

Post a Comment