My New Year's Resolution

It’s that time of year when new year’s resolutions are everywhere. This year, I decided not to make resolutions as such, but rather choose a word to focus on, an idea to (hopefully) govern my choices. But I was still thinking thoughts like, ‘I will step outside my comfort zone more this year.’ Or, ‘I will get closer to God, and be a stronger witness.’ There’s nothing wrong with resolves like that, is there?

I didn’t think so, until I heard someone speaking about Lucifer, the angel that first sinned. What was it that caused his downfall? It says in Isaiah 14: “How are thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! …for though hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into the heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of congregation… I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High.” These were Lucifer’s new year’s resolutions, if you will. He was going to make himself better, he was going to change things, and he was going to do it himself. How is that different to what I was thinking? 

It’s hard to spot, because what could be wrong with aiming to do better, to be better?  Of itself, there isn’t anything wrong with seeking to improve; growth is essential. But, it’s how we get there, it’s how we plan on achieving the improvement, it’s the attitude. It made me think of Jesus, how He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing… I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30) If Jesus can’t do anything of Himself, what do I think I’m doing saying I will do this or I will do that?

It’s not about me, it’s not about you. It’s not about what we can do, how we can improve ourselves, or make a good life for ourselves. It’s about Him. It’s got to be, because Jesus also says, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

So the only thing I can do, is choose to abide, choose to accept that I can’t do it myself,  and choose to let Him make the resolutions, do the improving, and help me grow to be who He has planned. Considering that He’s perfect, He cannot possibly fail or make a mistake, and that He already has unimaginable plans for my life, it's the perfect solution.

So that’s what I’ve been thinking about these last few days. It was a surprising thought process, actually, but it’s kind of freeing. I can’t improve myself; only He can. I don't have to do it, I just have to allow God to work in my life. It's still hard to know exactly what God wants for me this year, and the what, when and wheres, but I want to make it Him and not me. Anyway, what’s been on your mind? How do you react to the explosion of new year’s resolutions everywhere? How do you think we can practically let Christ direct our lives? Tell me your thoughts!