A new year means new resolutions. At least for some of us it does. New year resolutions are great to have; they motivate (maybe even for just a short amount of time) and they help us prioritize what matters most in the upcoming year. For me, I'm prioritizing God. When I first thought about this, I thought, "How overwhelming!?" So many things come with prioritizing God: read the Bible every day, evangelize more, read more theological books, pray more often and with more passion and love towards God, get more involved in students lives at the church, be open to what God wants to do in my life, listen to God instead of always being the one talking and So. Much. More!
I was reading my Bible the other day (like a good girl keeping her resolution) when I realized, what am I thinking? I'm thinking of all the things I need to do. I made it all about me. Let's stop there, if my goal for the year is to make my life all about God, then it doesn't start with me. It can't start with me. It has to start with God. All of these things that I keep thinking I need to do are all really great things to do and focus on, but if I'm focusing on me and my actions, then the whole point is lost. My whole goal is just another way for me to feel disappointed that my relationship with God is shallow if I don't actually give it to God. "Faith without actions is dead", well so are actions without faith.
So, here's my resolution for the new year: seek God with all of my heart. It seems vague but I don't think it is. I think it's attainable. My prayer each day would be that God reveal himself more and more each day so I can become aware of God in all instances of every day. With this will come the desire to do all the other things listed in the opening paragraph. Once I seek God with all my heart, I believe that the desire to serve him with all that I do will come with my love for God. The deeper I grow in Christ, the more I will want to learn, pray, speak, and rejoice in His name.
This year will bring new challenges for me. God has allowed me to get pregnant and in June, the little baby will be welcomed into this world. I'm assuming since marriage works a lot better with God at the center, then so does parenting. Now, I'm not expecting to have this amazing relationship with God by the time the baby comes, but starting now can make a difference. It takes time, it takes patience, and it takes perseverance. I'm willing to give it all I've got so God will be glorified in all that I do, especially parenting.
I honestly don't know what's ahead in this life for me. I don't know where I'm going career-wise. I want to use my degree because I spent so much time working for it. I also want to be a stay-at-home mom and maybe that's what will happen. I don't know. But, what I do know is that no matter what I do and no matter where I end up, I want it to be God's will. I believe that God has some big plans for my husband and me in this life and I cannot wait to see what those plans are, but in the mean time, I'll pray that God reveals himself to me and I will seek Him with all I have. In the end, I think that's what really matters: living a life where you seek God in every instance and hopefully, you help others find their way to Him as well.
So, make your resolution for the new year. Make it attainable, make it simple, but ultimately, make it about God. Just like with mine, I don't know what your life holds for you. I don't know what God has in store for you, but I can promise, no matter what you do with your life, putting God first and foremost will make it that much more rewarding. It may not be easy, but it will be glorifying to God if you always seek him first. I'm ready to make this change and I hope you are too. Are you with me?
I was reading my Bible the other day (like a good girl keeping her resolution) when I realized, what am I thinking? I'm thinking of all the things I need to do. I made it all about me. Let's stop there, if my goal for the year is to make my life all about God, then it doesn't start with me. It can't start with me. It has to start with God. All of these things that I keep thinking I need to do are all really great things to do and focus on, but if I'm focusing on me and my actions, then the whole point is lost. My whole goal is just another way for me to feel disappointed that my relationship with God is shallow if I don't actually give it to God. "Faith without actions is dead", well so are actions without faith.
So, here's my resolution for the new year: seek God with all of my heart. It seems vague but I don't think it is. I think it's attainable. My prayer each day would be that God reveal himself more and more each day so I can become aware of God in all instances of every day. With this will come the desire to do all the other things listed in the opening paragraph. Once I seek God with all my heart, I believe that the desire to serve him with all that I do will come with my love for God. The deeper I grow in Christ, the more I will want to learn, pray, speak, and rejoice in His name.
This year will bring new challenges for me. God has allowed me to get pregnant and in June, the little baby will be welcomed into this world. I'm assuming since marriage works a lot better with God at the center, then so does parenting. Now, I'm not expecting to have this amazing relationship with God by the time the baby comes, but starting now can make a difference. It takes time, it takes patience, and it takes perseverance. I'm willing to give it all I've got so God will be glorified in all that I do, especially parenting.
I honestly don't know what's ahead in this life for me. I don't know where I'm going career-wise. I want to use my degree because I spent so much time working for it. I also want to be a stay-at-home mom and maybe that's what will happen. I don't know. But, what I do know is that no matter what I do and no matter where I end up, I want it to be God's will. I believe that God has some big plans for my husband and me in this life and I cannot wait to see what those plans are, but in the mean time, I'll pray that God reveals himself to me and I will seek Him with all I have. In the end, I think that's what really matters: living a life where you seek God in every instance and hopefully, you help others find their way to Him as well.
So, make your resolution for the new year. Make it attainable, make it simple, but ultimately, make it about God. Just like with mine, I don't know what your life holds for you. I don't know what God has in store for you, but I can promise, no matter what you do with your life, putting God first and foremost will make it that much more rewarding. It may not be easy, but it will be glorifying to God if you always seek him first. I'm ready to make this change and I hope you are too. Are you with me?