Improving myself, my spiritual walk, relationships, or others, seems to come with a caveat today: 'Do I want to do it? Does it make me happy?'
Happiness is fleeting and more often short lived in comparison to joy, contentment, or peace. Happiness is not a negative thing, but chasing happiness, instead of it being an emotion or enhancer as it stands, is what seems like another reason to fuel the desires of flesh.
With such, New Year's Resolutions (along with many other things that may relate to improving oneself, or resolving unhelpful habits) can carry a bit of a negative tone today.
Why must I need a resolution? What do I need to 'clear up'?
To the flesh, its ways always seem right, so accordingly, the response is to not change, but to instead seek more happiness.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12 English Standard Version)
Yet with God, we know to test everything and follow His guidance all the time. We need resolutions, or clearing up, everyday, and He gives us such, every morning!
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22 - 23 English Standard Version)
So, we should continue to seek them and make good use of them.
God's New and Great Love
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:10 - 13 English Standard Version)
God's love is new every morning, and it is great! The greatness of His love washes away our sins. As well, His love was new when Christ was born, when He healed the sick (as He still does!), and when He died for our sins and rose again. We discover more of His love when we seek to His Word.
Now then, when Christ came to Earth in the flesh, so as a new commandment from Him, our Word; a new 'resolution', or 'clearing up', of how we ought love:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34 English Standard Version)
Furthermore, He gave us the Holy Spirit to remain in us now, forever.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, (John 14:16 English Standard Version)
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14: 25-27 English Standard Version)
With our new blessings, Helper, gifts, and love, we modify how we live and practice thankfulness, love, and honor in our own, personal race.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 English Standard Version)
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:10 English Standard Version)
Closing
Therefore, with an entire year that God has blessed me by keeping me spiritually, I am going into the New Year with new resolutions, as we are always in need of clearing up. I will use the tradition for the Lord, as His new promises have kept me.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (Colossians 3:23 English Standard Version)
So, thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ for atoning for us, and covering us in His blood, as He clears and resolves us of our sins everyday. May our resolutions look toward honoring what God has given us, and toward working out our own salvation in Him, as He saved us from death entirely.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12 - 13 English Standard Version)
Happy New Year!
Claire Belle
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