It is inevitable that as the current year fades and the promise of a new one is on the horizon, many of us take the opportunity to reflect. Was it a good year? Did it bring unexpected sadness, loss or challenges? Did you manage to do all the things you planned and accomplish the goals you set for yourself? Whatever the answers to these questions, most of us resolve to do things differently in the new year. We mean to take it and all the promise it holds into our hands, and then mold it so that it fits snuggly into all our aspirations. Those of us that dare to be mobilized by our faith will be so bold as to posture ourselves for a reset. We’re looking to take a bigger bite out of life and believe we can make whatever change that greater joy and happiness will require of us.
We can’t avoid the elephant in the room whenever the subject of resolutions comes up. The reality that some of face after giving our resolutions a good college try is disappointment. Life is unpredictable, and sometimes the unexpected gets in the way. Sometimes, our commitment to our resolutions dwindle, and it’s often because one of life’s issues gets in the way and consumes our focus. Other priorities take precedent, and the resolution slips further down the list. No matter the reason for putting a reset on the backburner, many of us feel we’re letting ourselves down because the success of something we’ve resolved eludes us again. The good news is that we had a resolution in the first place. It means we realize that change is possible for us, and that’s a really good thing. We recognize that life can be better and that no matter the number of missteps or mishaps of the past, the newness of another year is an opportunity for a reset.
We live from the inside out, and making a resolution means that we understand this on some level. We understand that the combination of our heart, will, and words set us up to do something good for ourselves. What some of us fail to consider is that the condition and content of our hearts, wills, and words is very important as well. Proverbs 4:23(NLT) tells us to “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” The heart is the innermost part of our being, and this verse schools us a little bit on how God created us to operate. The course of our lives flow from the contents of our hearts, and this means we need to be very discerning about what we let in and out of them.
Faith and gratitude give us footingFor some of us, our hearts, wills, and words are saturated with too much faith in ourselves and not enough faith in God. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives us strength. We can’t afford to be confused about this truth. Our strength comes from the Lord, and when we resolve to achieve greater so we can live fuller, our faith in our Heavenly Father must be increased and our level of gratitude for His goodness should grow deeper. When faith and gratitude towards God are firmly anchored in our hearts and minds, they extend the footing on which greater blessings can rest.
Philippians 4:19(NIV) declares, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” God is the Supplier and we’re the recipients. He requires our humility towards His truth. Many people don’t make the connection between their accomplishment of goals and their level of faith and gratitude towards God. They fail to acknowledge that He is the Source of all good things, and that our faith and gratitude grounds us in a way that no amount of willpower can. The new year is a great time for resolutions and a reset, but any change that we think is going to elevate our lives must begin with the expansion of our own hearts towards God. We should be very intentional about amping up the time we spend meditating on His goodness and being truly very thankful for what He’s done for our lives in the past, and what He will do for us in the future.
Increase your prayer lifePhilippians 4:6(NLT) tells us, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Increasing our prayer lives is pivotal to gaining spiritual strength and greater faith. We should increase the quality and the quantity of our prayers to God and ask for revelation and understanding so that we pray effectively. Whether it’s better health and wellness, new relationships, marriage, a better job, increased finances, or fertility in any other area of life, in order to tell God what we need, we should be clear about what that is and boldly come before His throne of grace. We also need to be prepared for the reality that we may need to change a few things. We might pray to get a new job, but we may not be praying about all the things that need to get in line so that the new job manifests. Our attitude may need to change, or we may need to release a habit pattern that doesn’t serve us well in the workplace.
Our eyes must be open to details like this, because a resolution almost always involves a reset, and a reset will require us to do things differently than we have before. The reset that never disappoints is one where our commitment to God is greater, and our resolve to hear and follow His directives is firm. Keeping the care of our relationship with Heavenly Father a priority and paying attention to how we can more closely align with the example of Christ play a huge part in the level of our success. We all need a reset at some point in our lives, and a new year is a great time to get it started, but it’s a process. Sometimes there are starts and stalls, but they will not hinder us from success if we are patient and confident in God. Always begin with addressing your spiritual well-being first. Resolve to pay close attention to your relationship with God. He wants you to be blessed and to live a beautiful life, and honoring Him through your faith, gratitude, and prayers is the way to achieve it.∎Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.“The Reset That Never Disappoints”, written by Vince Mack. Blessing Beads and More© 2023. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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