Taking It to Work:
I remember my grandfather telling me that it was very easy for him to quit smoking. He said he had done it a hundred times. Well, the New Year’s resolutions are coming. If stats are right, about forty percent of us will have at least one resolution this coming year, but only nine percent of us will actually make it, with about a quarter of the folks quitting by the end of the first week. Pretty sad huh?
It’s to be expected though. Self-imposed, elective-type resolutions are very tough to keep. They’re usually made without accountability, and are easily abandoned when things get hard. It’s a good thing that most of our New Year’s resolutions are really not that important, and we let them go with a shrug and a smile, then go on about the more important things in life.
But, what if it’s not self-imposed. What if this year’s resolution is something you really feel that God is asking you to do? There are times in our life where our Lord asks us for a true resolution; with true resolve to do what He asks; to push through anything and everything that stands in our way, including pushing through our own doubt and fear.
Outside of losing a few pounds, or hitting the gym more often, is the Lord asking you to do more? To step out spiritually this coming year? Have you asked Him specifically for what He might want for a resolution? If you do, be ready. It may be exactly what you need, but you might be shown a request, a task or a path that seems a bit scary. It may be a tough one, one that focuses on your heart more than your health, one more focused on your spiritual growth than on how you look. And if it is from God, often it may be one that you can only be successful at if you have His help – a God-sized resolution.
Fear not though. If you do get a resolution request from Him, no matter how difficult or daunting, don’t let worry, or let fear of failure choke out any of the fruit that God wants for you in this coming year. Set your face like flint; lock arms with the Lord, and come January 1st, don’t look back. Be one of the nine percent, with His help, as His Word works in you, today.
James 1:2-4 (CSB) – Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
Luke 8:14 (CSB) – Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Phil 4:13 (ESV) – I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
To he who walks without counsel, it is he who will find only a close, but barren field. The wanderer knows not his way, and seeks no counsel. He starts with fervor but wanes with doubt. Tossed to-and-fro by wind and waves, lost and without fruit for the wandering, he returns to the barren place. Many a path begins in faith, but turns from each for the difficulty and darkness. Again and again he starts a different journey, but with each he returns for fear of his weakness, that his choice is beyond his strength. Many are witness, but to the faithless, blindness to his endless circles. Slowness masks as wisdom, fear mistaken for care, the double-mind hidden as prudence. My Spirit beckons you forward, your face set as flint against the gale. The storm and trial do not mark the erred path, for I strengthen along the way. Fear not the test. Go the way of My call. Be certain of My presence, in darkness and light, on the high ground or low way. The fruit of the follower is only as he follows. He who begins and wavers not, it is he who will stand full on the last day. I Am Lord of the Way. I do not abandon those I call. Pray that you are unfailing in the dark and mighty way, and fear not the way itself. Set your eyes upon the goal, and waver not from it. Walk in righteousness and faith, and there will be great fruit in the continuance.
