How do it go by SO FAST? Cliche it may be, but seriously, this year flew by.
There's one day left in 2011. 2012 is one day away. Either way you look at it, we are wrapping up another crazy, busy, fun, challenging, fast year. All to do it over again, hopefully accomplishing all of things we, as individuals/couples/friends/families, have set as goals for the upcoming year.
Whether those goals be of the infamous type like: losing weight, exercising more, eating healthy, saving money, growing closer to God, practicing kindness more often, helping those who are less fortunate, or stopping bad habits, as we look toward a new year, most of us feel the need for a "new beginning" or "fresh start." The world knows these new beginnings or fresh starts as "New Year's Resolutions."
What are your New Year's Resolutions? What is going to be the thing, or things, that provide for your "new beginning" or "fresh start?" I'm not sure if I know what my specific resolution is just yet. I have a few thoughts running through my mind on how I could improve myself- physically, spiritually, etc.
However, at the end of next year, a year from now, no matter how many New Year's Resolutions are made this year, we will still be far from perfect. Because we're human. Because we have a sin nature. Because of Who died for us simply for one reason- our imperfections.
Sure, we can set goals for ourselves to improve us. I think we should and I think it's healthy. Goals, when followed with action, take us places- places that are part of God's plan. Setting goals is essential. It's just that we'll never be perfect. With that knowledge comes the realization that it is God himself who makes us whole and complete. He loves us even with all of the things about us that aren't so lovely.
Our selfish wants
Our satisfaction from gossip
Our jealousy
Our impatience
Our dishonesty
Our unwillingness to help the least of these
Our hatred
Our desire to brag on ourselves
Our unpure thoughts and actions
Our ability to kill, steal and destroy
Our insecurities about ourselves, when we were made in God's image
...the list could go on. My point is that we all fall short. Myself included. I'm looking at that list right now seeing categories in which I fit. But just because I don't "fall into" some of those above listed categories, doesn't make me any bit better than the next guy. It does, however, show that I'm in need of someone who IS perfect, and there's only one. His name is Jesus.
Not one single New Year's Resolution is as good as the One who created the universe. He really is all we need. When we seek Him, he'll show us what it is we need to do to make ourselves more like the person He created us to be.
"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." -Isaiah 64:8
When I began typing this post- I had no intention of sharing more than what the title suggests- how 2011 went by so quickly. But as I was writing about New Year's resolutions and their meaning- God began to lead me in a different direction. And I'm not ashamed. It shows the power God has in our lives (when we allow Him)- even through a simple blog post. Just in writing this- I think I've learned there's really only one thing I need to work on in the upcoming year- and if I work on that- everything else will fall into place...because if I die tomorrow, nothing is going with me. All that will matter is Who I belong to.
That's what I need to live for.
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