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.
James 1:2-8 (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.
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
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.
Bottom Line: New Year’s resolutions are common, and commonly abandoned when things get hard. Maybe losing that couple pounds really ends up not as important as you thought, or maybe that ice cream sandwich addiction is just too strong! Most of our New Year’s resolutions are not that important, and we let them go with a shrug and a smile, then go on about the important things. But, there are times in our life where God is asking us for a true resolution, true resolve to push through anything and everything that stands in our way – including our own doubt and fear. This new year, have you been shown a path that seems a bit scary, one that you can only travel if you have His help, or do you have the choice of many paths, and can’t make the decision for any one of them? Fear not. If you are following Him with all your heart, turning away from selfish motivations, He will be with you on any one of those paths. Don’t let worry choke out your fruit. Set your face like flint; lock arms with the Lord, and don’t look back!
