Scripture Reference: Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)
While Jesus was teaching in Jerusalem, “one of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
Well, here we are again preparing to step into another new year. So, out with the old and in with the new. With 2018 behind us we may be reflecting on the things we said we would do in 2018, but we failed to accomplish. There may be tapes playing in our heads that are stuck on repeat like, “I am going to lose weight this time. I am going to work harder to get the promotion. I am going to decrease my spending.” The lists may be endless.
As I flipped my calendars to 2019, I noticed that two of the calendars had written reflections for 2019. The Guide Post Daily Planner 2019 says, “old things have passed away, all things have become new, so we become like blank pages of the calendar waiting to be filled”. The Prayers That Avail Much Daily Calendar says in part, “Lord, I dedicate the New Year for Your honor and glory through my life and I commit myself anew to Your plan and purpose, that I might run the full race to complete the destiny to which You have called me”. On January 1, the theme of submitting all to the Lord continued. “Thank You for giving me a fresh start . . . Thank You for new goals, new relationships, new connections that You will bring forth with Your mighty power….” Um… what sobering positioning to be resolutely focused on the Lord instead of writing resolutions in one’s strength reflecting on what we will accomplish in the New Year.
I learned a few years ago that when we make resolutions, we are basically making vows, as we judge our failures and strike out to apply more of our own strength to do better or more of the same in the upcoming year, oftentimes ending in failure. A resolution is a firm decision to do or not do something. All my resolutions in the past failed because I had the incorrect object of who was going to do the exploits and the wrong motives.
So this year, I rest in Father God and ask Him to teach me to do the two greatest Commandments written: Love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, and strength; and to love my neighbor as myself (Mark 12:30-31). I believe with my whole heart that if I just park my life in these Words and ask God to help me to do what He has instructed, then at the end of this year, I can expect a seamless transition into the next year, with many victories to document. I invite you to rest in the Commandments of God and let Him help you accomplish what He has instructed us to do.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for blessing me with everything I need this New Year to live my life loving you with all that’s in me and loving my neighbors as myself. You are my resolve. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.