“ When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NIV
As we say goodbye to another year and welcome in 2020, I am sure that a lot of people will make New Year’s resolutions. I think it’s safe to say that almost everyone has made a New Year’s resolution at least once in their life, if not several times. I have made countless attempts at New Year’s resolutions, but I always seem to fall short.
It’s kind of the same way with sin. We make the best attempts to stay away from the traps of sin, yet find ourselves once again on that very familiar, slippery slope. The thing is, I can make a resolution to myself and break it, and realistically, the only thing lost is just a broken agreement with me. But when it comes to making an agreement with God and then breaking it, now that’s a different story. At this point, I have sinned against the very One who has given me life and loves me unconditionally.
One definition of “resolution” is to make a firm decision to do or not to do something. We have that choice in our walk with the Lord. We can either choose to obey him or go our own sinful way. When God created us, He gave us free will. He desires for us to do His will, but we get to make that choice.
I am so thankful that God gives us grace upon grace. When we fall short, break resolutions with Him and sin, He forgives us. I don’t know about you, but I have yet to keep a New Year’s resolution to myself. I can’t seem to do it. So I don’t make them anymore. I found that since I never keep them anyway, why even bother!
I do, however, strive to keep my resolutions with God. Of course, I’m no scholar here either, but when I make a promise to God and break it, I know that He forgives me when I cry out to him. When He makes a promise to me, I know that he keeps all of His promises. He never ever lets me down. He has proven this to me over and over.
I love calling God a promise keeper because he is. He is always faithful. When I struggle and fall short with my New Year’s resolution to myself, I’m okay with it. I want to spend my days striving to please God. My “weight loss resolution” or “stay away from sugar” resolution never seem to have the reward as does being obedient to God and pleasing him. I find myself saying, “It won’t kill me to eat this cookie or drink that Coke.” But if I don’t have Jesus in my life and think I can make it on my own, now that can kill me. It won’t lead me to the path of everlasting life if I leave God out.
So my New Year’s resolution to God this year is to be more still. I want to be a better light in the darkness, to be obedient, to listen for His voice, and be open to His calling. I want to reach out to the lost and broken and be more peaceful. I want to love others as He loves me.
These are resolutions that can change more than a number on a scale; they can change a life. My prayer is that you will draw closer to the Lord in 2020. That you will find those quiet moments to be still and listen for His voice. I pray that you will experience God in amazing ways throughout the year. New beginnings are always exciting especially when they are spent with our Heavenly Father and doing His will.
Have a blessed and happy new year!
Beth Nahkala
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#bethnahkalablogs
