Resolutions of the Heart

All those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes. Nehemiah 10:29 (New American Standard Bible)

I will admit I have already decided on some New Year resolutions but they all involve outward behavior.

As I read today’s verse from Nehemiah I was struck by the seriousness and extent of the decision made. How many of us would attach a blessing and curse to our resolutions? How many of us would proclaim absolute obedience to God’s Word, will, and way as our New Year resolution? That is when it occurred to me that most of us do not make New Year resolutions that have to do with attitudes of the heart

So today I am asking myself what it would be like if my resolutions included such things as speaking kindly and graciously to others, extending forgiveness, relinquishing past hurts and failures, looking to God to meet my needs instead of people, aligning my thoughts with Philippians 4:8, and living with a daily realization that God loves me and wants me to extend that love to others. These things are based on my cooperation with God (a choice) and my dependency upon God (a reality). My flesh, my will, and my thoughts are not up to the challenge but God’s Spirit, Who lives in me, IS!

If I make the decision to live this way it must not be with perfection in mind or dependency upon my flesh. Both will set me up for failure. It is not so much a New Year resolution as a daily decision for cooperation with and dependency on God. Transformation of my heart and life will come as I renew my mind and walk in the Spirit. I am not on my own. The God of the universe will be my enabler, coach, cheerleader, and encourager. He will extend grace and mercy when I fail and reassurances that I will succeed at times. As with any journey it will be one step at a time in His presence.

I am hearing God’s invitation for me to join Him on a different way to live my Christian life. His Spirit stirs within me a longing to link up with Himself. His desire and willingness to supply all I need is evident. He now waits for me (and you) to accept His offer.

Father, with timid hands I reach for You. Birth in me the trust to follow You in every area to which You invite me. May I feel Your hand on me and arms around me. Fill me, free me, and change me at the very center of my being! Amen.

Potter's Hand - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6beNoG0H0E0

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.