The End of the New Years Resolution

Over the past few days I have been really thinking about the intentions behind the New Year's Resolution. I have been wondering why it is that year after year we decide to make a resolution in the first place. More times that naught, the resolution itself is nothing more than a way to better one's self. The resolution is nothing more than to feed yourself some goal to better yourself by the end of the year. But what usually happens is that this resolution is rarely completed, or is not up to what you had originally intended. And so by the turn of the next year, the new resolution is the same resolution from the past.

Now I know that I am categorizing a lot of people, including myself. And I am sure that some people stay true to their resolution. But I wonder, does the resolution mean that you are privy to hold true to it for that year, or is it something that once started should proceed through your life. Are the resolutions meant to be a year thing or a life thing?

I look at the years past, and how some times I find the resolution that I once told myself I would do, was very ill informed and not really the best thing for me at the time. Instead of having a resolution for this year, I am going to have a resolution to make no resolution. Instead I am going to treat each day as a blessing, knowing that I need to make the best of it each day. Will I achieve that every day, probably not. But maybe by focusing on the day and the things I can do at the current time, I can make better the time I spend and the effort I put forth. Thus in the end of the day, I can evaluate and adjust for the next day. Rather than waiting for the end of the year to examine and adjust I do it every day.

I keep thinking of how God works in the lives of everyone. One of the things I keep encountering in the Bible is that God goes before people, laying the way. Each day during the Exodus, the Isrealites woke up and looked upon God to guide and lead them. This wasn't something that they saw the end of the road, or the x on the map, but instead it was a daily exercise of submitting and following God. I want my life to look like that. A daily exercise of submission and following. Perhaps this year, in a year of no resolution, can be the year that I experience God far more that ever.

Looking back at last year there was so much that God taught me. From submitting to His calling he allowed me to release some anger and hurt that has been built up for so long. He also gave me a once in a lifetime chance to spend the entire summer in Poland. God is not a God who hides himself, but instead He chooses to reveal Himself to us in the time that He chooses. May my eyes be open for the works, words and wonders that He pours forth on us. May he be the one who is glorified and lifted higher. May He be the one, the only one, who is given the credit.