New Years Day, Eureka Springs
Everyone is talking about it.
Some are thoughtful and serious,
Some are scornful and disdaining,
Some look to the future with excitement and anticipation of their success.
While others are fatalistic, holding no hope for success thus declining to even try.
My sister and I always marvel at the number of people crowding the YMCA during the new year. In January we may actually have to wait for a treadmill, or stepper to come available. By March the wait is nonexistent.
What is it in our human nature that makes keeping our resolutions so difficult? Making the list is easy. Execution is difficult.
We start off strong and determined—then life happens.
We falter,
We misstep,
We often fail miserably.
One year I decided I would cook meals ahead of time so I could have something ready to go in the freezer. It was such a busy time in life, with two boys playing different sports, and the Preacher who was just as likely to be coaching one of them.
A new food preparation place had opened so I cajoled my partner in crime, my sis, to join me. We made our reservations and had a great time hanging out and preparing the pre-chosen meals.
It was fast, easy and fun.
That experiment lasted about three months. No great loss, just a minor failed goal.
But there is one goal I take very seriously—reading my Bible.
In my twenties I just wanted to try to remember to read it at all. As I got older and a little more regular, I upped the ante.
The year I decided I would read the entire Bible—I barely trudged past the dreaded Leviticus-Numbers-Deuteronomy mountain, only to find I got bogged down in the Psalms of all things.
After many failures, I wised up, some of you might think I copped out. But I decided to make the goal reading my bible every day.
Some days I read chapters, other days I read a few verses. The point to me was reading daily.
It was not about a checklist,
It was not about bragging rights,
It was not about comparing and competing,
It was certainly not a race.
It was about taking the time, not rushing through. Whether a few minutes or an hour a day—I needed to be still and listen to the voice of my God.
It took me years to realize it was quality, not quantity.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I had robbed myself of the life changing words which would have led from the road of mere survival to the path of peace.
Read his word and let God change your life—one day at a time.
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Psalms 119:14-16 “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”
-What resolution failures and successes have you had?
-Make at least one resolution for 2015, and make it a spiritual one.