To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power . . . 2 Thessalonians 1:11
It’s that time of year. Forget the past, look to the future. Do-over time. Make your resolutions. Will it be to exercise more, eat less fattening foods, not be so stressed, find time to smell the roses, study the Bible? Maybe it will be to volunteer at the shelter, or deliver meals. Perhaps something more nebulous such as vowing to be a more understanding spouse or parent, or grandparent.
Why is it that our resolves usually dissolve within a month? Is it perhaps because we are trying to improve on our own? The American pioneer “I can do it myself” spirit kicks in? As the old ’70s song yelled, “I am woman, hear me roar!”
Do we forget that we have a God who is in the business of do-overs who empowers us through His Spirit to succeed? Though he is still wiggling in the manger waiting for the Wise Men, this babe we worship is not the New Year’s baby, but the New Life baby. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the begining and the end. He is the unblemished Lamb that takes away the sins of the world – to those who confess Him to be Lord and resolve to have Him enter into their hearts, souls and lives. We truly can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength (Phil 4:13). Even keep our well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions.
What would happen this year if we each turned those New Year’s want-to-do’s into New Life’s I-can-do’s, through Him? Even better, what if we left the resolving up to God and asked Him, “Lord, what will you have me do?”
