Well it's the beginning of another year, and with that comes a look back at the past year: our faults, successes, changes, and regrets. Most of us will set New Year's resolutions, to only be met with disappointment.
For me, I've struggled with getting the extra baby weight off since my third child was born (over 5 years ago!). It finally happened for me in 2011 with a whopping 30 lbs being shed. But it was not of my own willpower, determination, or trying which really achieved this monumental resolution. In fact is was not a resolution at all. It was a total surrendering that the challenge was not on my own, but by God's strength, He could give me the power to stay on track.
Isn't that true of everything we really try at? By our own human power we cannot do anything but eventually criticize, stress out, put down, and fail, resulting in shame and disappointment. Even living a life in the flesh in this world where every turn we take tells us to live not by God's ways, but according to the world's standards--a far cry from the life of holiness and righteousness we are called to live by. We are all failures and doomed to sin and death. Because of the enemy introducing us to a longing to be in control, because of our own free will which God granted us, often we seek to BE the ONE to make the change in our lives.
But this cannot be. By the original sin, we were destined to be separated from God. The human flesh which we reside in will cause us to fail in God's sight. However, we can enter into this new year--2012, with the full assurance that God is the WINNER. He does not fail and His ways are perfect. He alone provided us with a way to succeed and to reach the stars if we so desire, so long as its in His will.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26. So go ahead and pray about the things in your life that need changing. Study God's Word and seek His guidance in those areas. But let Him be the one, through total faith and surrendering to His Lordship in your life, to do the work. He will help you stay on track. If you seek Him and His strength, He will illuminate a way for you to really be the new creation He intends for all of us to be.
For me, I've struggled with getting the extra baby weight off since my third child was born (over 5 years ago!). It finally happened for me in 2011 with a whopping 30 lbs being shed. But it was not of my own willpower, determination, or trying which really achieved this monumental resolution. In fact is was not a resolution at all. It was a total surrendering that the challenge was not on my own, but by God's strength, He could give me the power to stay on track.
Isn't that true of everything we really try at? By our own human power we cannot do anything but eventually criticize, stress out, put down, and fail, resulting in shame and disappointment. Even living a life in the flesh in this world where every turn we take tells us to live not by God's ways, but according to the world's standards--a far cry from the life of holiness and righteousness we are called to live by. We are all failures and doomed to sin and death. Because of the enemy introducing us to a longing to be in control, because of our own free will which God granted us, often we seek to BE the ONE to make the change in our lives.
But this cannot be. By the original sin, we were destined to be separated from God. The human flesh which we reside in will cause us to fail in God's sight. However, we can enter into this new year--2012, with the full assurance that God is the WINNER. He does not fail and His ways are perfect. He alone provided us with a way to succeed and to reach the stars if we so desire, so long as its in His will.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26. So go ahead and pray about the things in your life that need changing. Study God's Word and seek His guidance in those areas. But let Him be the one, through total faith and surrendering to His Lordship in your life, to do the work. He will help you stay on track. If you seek Him and His strength, He will illuminate a way for you to really be the new creation He intends for all of us to be.
