Broken your new year resolutions yet? The end of January is always amusing to me, in that our exercise resolution is challenged with Valentine’s chocolate. January payday means all those financial constraints we placed on ourselves, to manage our finances better, are forgotten. As the busyness of January picks up and the year goes back to normal and regular routine, those new year resolutions go out the window.
Now is the time to work on your resolve, so that the destiny you planned for this year, does not dissolve.
To resolve to do something is a determined, unwavering, decided, serious, set decision to work or develop in a specific direction. When we resolve, it is more than a decision in a moment; or a good intention; it has the power to change your life.
When we resolve to do something:
- It challenges what is secular around us, a blending into the world that we are not a part of as citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20). The resolve works on becoming a new person that has left the old person behind (2 Cor 5:17).
- It challenges what is sinful in and around us, a world culture that indulges; is comfortable; acts selfishly; sells lies, etc.
- It challenges what is shallow, a survival or pleasure focused life versus a life of purpose — a life of cookie-cutter personalities versus true, genuine character.
- It challenges what is settled: the status quo, the acceptance of that which is not right. It calls you to live on another plane, to ask questions to step up.
When we work on our resolve and put determined direction into our lives, it brings a new type of freedom. We see this in that these decisions that we resolve to do – guide us into greater freedom. Financial resolves, for example, bring freedom in finances, others in relationships, in work, in health issues, etc. They elevate us from a life that is the norm, to an exceptional life! Daniel was a man who resolved to live on biblical principles that elevated him above the surrounding Babylonians.
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. (Daniel 6:3-4)
What we resolve to do forces us out of our comfort zone and into a growth zone where we have to rely on God, are personally disciplined and call for the help of others. When we resolve to move in a direction that God and scripture have revealed to us, it becomes the subject of our decisions, our prayers, our conversation, our activities.
What we resolve to do will bring results because our decisions for life can open or close amazing doors for us. When we decide to move in a certain direction, God rolls up his sleeves and says: “Let’s get to work!” When Daniel and his friends, resolved to live on godly principles, God met their obedience and commitment with His power:
So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men, God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. (Daniel 1:16-17)
It is important to remember that God’s love is unconditional but His blessings are conditional of a godly lifestyle. God loves me for who I am but blesses what I do in obedience. I do not initiate God’s love for me, but I do initiate the release of His power and miracles into my life.
To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thes 1:11-12 English Standard Version)
Lord, help me to look at those new year resolutions again and not merely make a spontaneous effort at a new destiny for my life but resolve to embrace this new destiny fully. I boldly declare that I will make sound biblical decisions for my life that will shape this year and my life to new heights. I resolve to honor God, to grow and develop and step up into who I am and what He has planed for me. I will no longer settle in my comfort zone, but with your help Lord, I will set out to accomplish my goals and take hold of the destiny we have planned for this year.
Thank you Michelle 🤗❤️😘