HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Grace Walkers New Year's Resolutions
by Steve McVey

I was recently asked about the place for New Year's Resolutions from a grace perspective. The question has caused me to think about how I view both the word and the concept. For many years I made resolutions at the beginning of each year, which were in essence demands I placed upon myself. All of my resolutions expressed my determination to better myself in various ways during the coming year. I made these resolutions every year, despite the fact that I never could make myself one bit better. Eventually, I would set the resolutions I had so zealously made in January aside and simply stop thinking about them . . . until the next January, when I would make many of the same resolutions again. Since coming to understand the grace walk, I still identify areas of my life in which I want to see the Holy Spirit work during the coming year. Each of my “resolutions” are intended to be an expression of trust in my heavenly Father. The following are some I have identified for the coming year.

I resolve that during 2010, I won't try to change anything about myself. As I become aware of any deficiencies in myself (real or imagined), I will lay them at the feet of my Father and trust Him to do as He will with them. I will submit myself to Him in those areas and do whatever He leads me to do regarding them, but I will not sign myself up for another self-improvement program of my own making.

I resolve that during 2010, I will commit those things that concern me and mine into the hands of my Father. I will not attempt to seize control of my circumstances, but will yield every situation of life to Him and will choose to believe that His sovereignty and love will faithfully dictate the outcome of those situations.

I resolve that during 2010, I will open my heart and mind to experience my Father's love in deeper ways. I will meditate upon His goodness and grace in my life in order to better know the height and depth and breadth of His love for me, knowing that by growing in an understanding of His love for me, I will grow in my love for Him.

I resolve that during 2010, I will trust Christ to express love toward others through me. I will depend on Him to teach me to more effectively show love to those I already value and to love those who have nothing to offer me in return.

I resolve that during 2010, I will be open to God working in me to bring about new ways of seeing things or doing things. I will submit myself to Him to experience growth and correction concerning the plausibility structure within which I now live.

These things I will do, not by self determination, but by His power which works in me mightily through the union I share with Him. (Philippians 2:13)

Does your heart resonate with these resolutions? I think a resolution is fine if, by that word, we mean that we are resolved by the grace of God to trust Him in various areas of our lives. May your new year be filled with a growing awareness of who He is in you and who you are in Him. (Colossians 1:29 To this end, like an earnest wrestler, I exert all my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work within me. WNT)