The Year’s New Resolution
by Merry Marinello © 2004
Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? We made several. One was to
memorize one verse per week as a family. Another I made was to get up earlier (not
doing so well on that one!).
Have you broken any yet? There seems to be an unwritten rule in our culture that
once a resolution is broken, it’s ok to take the rest of the year off! It’s as if there is
an inherent hopelessness in trying to change ourselves.
I tend to think of myself as not having a lot of self-discipline. But something I read
recently pointed out that we all have determination and perseverance when it comes
to things we really care about. Family, job, hobbies—if we examine our lives we can
find certain things that we won’t let slide. How can we harness that same discipline
to effect change in our lives?
When Joshua was near Jericho, he saw a man with a drawn sword and asked,
"Are you for us or for our enemies?"
This encounter changed how Joshua viewed his circumstances. He didn’t seek God’
s assistance—he viewed himself as God’s servant.
Viewing ourselves as God’s servants will inherently alter how we seek to change
ourselves. Are we looking towards our own goals, or God’s?
This year I asked God to make clear to me the things that are really important to
Him. Since I know I DO have some of that discipline that I need, it's a matter of
realizing the seriousness of the priority to God, and working towards His goal. And
when I fail, to not beat myself up but just get up and try again.
I think it's easy to expect perfection of ourselves, and I've realized that can be very
prideful—it's almost thinking we should be able to be like God and never fail. Not
that we don't strive to be like Christ, but that we need to view ourselves with humility
and realize we'll fail--that's part of what keeps us going back to and depending on
God.
My husband Dave recently taught a Sunday school class on holiness. As we
studied John 15 and Galatians 5, he said that character is being a strong enough
branch to be able to support the fruit that God wants to develop in us.
A twig can't support an orange. The fruit is what God produces; our job is to grow
strong enough to bear the fruit that God wants to produce. And the way we become
strong is to continue in the vine—connected to God through prayer and the word.
Be patient with yourself, God will change you! Pray over the things you want to
change and ask God what's most important to Him—He may have a different idea
than you do.
Continue to pray & remain in the word. Make a plan, and ask a friend to help you
be accountable. Realize you'll fail sometimes, don't give up, keep trying. God will
change you over time.
About the Author
back to Hope Stories
by Merry Marinello © 2004
Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? We made several. One was to
memorize one verse per week as a family. Another I made was to get up earlier (not
doing so well on that one!).
Have you broken any yet? There seems to be an unwritten rule in our culture that
once a resolution is broken, it’s ok to take the rest of the year off! It’s as if there is
an inherent hopelessness in trying to change ourselves.
I tend to think of myself as not having a lot of self-discipline. But something I read
recently pointed out that we all have determination and perseverance when it comes
to things we really care about. Family, job, hobbies—if we examine our lives we can
find certain things that we won’t let slide. How can we harness that same discipline
to effect change in our lives?
When Joshua was near Jericho, he saw a man with a drawn sword and asked,
"Are you for us or for our enemies?"
This encounter changed how Joshua viewed his circumstances. He didn’t seek God’
s assistance—he viewed himself as God’s servant.
Viewing ourselves as God’s servants will inherently alter how we seek to change
ourselves. Are we looking towards our own goals, or God’s?
This year I asked God to make clear to me the things that are really important to
Him. Since I know I DO have some of that discipline that I need, it's a matter of
realizing the seriousness of the priority to God, and working towards His goal. And
when I fail, to not beat myself up but just get up and try again.
I think it's easy to expect perfection of ourselves, and I've realized that can be very
prideful—it's almost thinking we should be able to be like God and never fail. Not
that we don't strive to be like Christ, but that we need to view ourselves with humility
and realize we'll fail--that's part of what keeps us going back to and depending on
God.
My husband Dave recently taught a Sunday school class on holiness. As we
studied John 15 and Galatians 5, he said that character is being a strong enough
branch to be able to support the fruit that God wants to develop in us.
A twig can't support an orange. The fruit is what God produces; our job is to grow
strong enough to bear the fruit that God wants to produce. And the way we become
strong is to continue in the vine—connected to God through prayer and the word.
Be patient with yourself, God will change you! Pray over the things you want to
change and ask God what's most important to Him—He may have a different idea
than you do.
Continue to pray & remain in the word. Make a plan, and ask a friend to help you
be accountable. Realize you'll fail sometimes, don't give up, keep trying. God will
change you over time.
About the Author
back to Hope Stories
"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the
LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the
ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my
Lord have for his servant?" —Joshua 5:13-14
LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the
ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my
Lord have for his servant?" —Joshua 5:13-14
© 2004 Dave and Merry Marinello, all rights reserved.
Welcome! Thanks for visiting our little "harbor" amid life's storms. We hope you
will find rest and encouragement in your struggles, big or small. Here you can:
will find rest and encouragement in your struggles, big or small. Here you can:
The Year's New Resolution
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Hope is My Anchor
Strength for your soul amid life's storms
Strength for your soul amid life's storms