Shooting the Breeze
There’s a tradition we observe at this time of year, and that’s the making of New Year’s resolutions. I didn’t say the “keeping” of New Year’s Resolutions but the “making” of New Year’s resolutions because there is a big difference.
There’s something about hanging a new calendar on the wall that convinces us we now have the willpower to do all the things we were failing at miserably the day before.
It’s the triumph of hope over experience.
We’re going to lose weight, exercise more, get along better with our relatives, save more money, learn to speak French, be a better person, be a better spouse – just to name a few.
I even ran across a place on the Internet where you can make your new year’s resolutions online, and they will email you a monthly reminder of what your resolutions were — as if anybody wanted to know after the first month.
Well, in this post I’m not going to tell you how to become thinner, or smarter, or healthier, or wealthier. I’m not sure I’d have much credibility giving advice in most of those areas, anyway.
But what I would like to do is suggest one resolution for your spiritual life; one resolution that each of us, as followers of Jesus Christ, ought to make as we enter this new year.
If we would make and keep just this one resolution, I believe it would transform our lives.
Are you ready?
This life changing resolution is: “I resolve that in the coming year I will seek to know God more deeply.”
That’s it.
Why is that so important?
Because nothing else matters.
Next to knowing God, nothing else matters.
That’s a radical statement. But it’s not just my opinion.
Listen to what Paul says in Philippians 3:7-11:
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
This is my desire for the coming year and I hope it is yours too!
Over the next 3 posts I want to expand on this subject by sharing 3 biblical suggestions on how we can grow deeper in our relationship with God this year.
They are:
What were your New Year’s resolutions? Will you resolve to know God more deeply this year?
Related posts:
Kevin: what a great reminder. In one of my men’s Bible Studies we are studying Knowing God, by J.I. Packer, so your challenge comes at a great time. It’s one thing to study about God: it’s another thing to study in order to know God more intimately and in order to walk with Him more closely.
Steve-Personal Success Factors recently posted..Learn Two Secrets Of Being Happy
That’s definitely a great distinction Steve! I want to know God not just know about Him!
Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Be directed by God
I agree what have you post here Kevin resolution is very helpful to make your self into new look of your life..
Fatima Hipolito recently posted..קבלה
The hard part is keeping the resolutions that we make.
Thanks for sharing Fatima!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..It is easier to complain than to rejoice
LOL that’s right kevs, and is depend right?
Fatima Hipolito recently posted..imi holsters
I think making sure that we are true to ourselves and our beliefs is crucial in any resolution.
Andy Nathan recently posted..5 Simple Secrets to Social media Success
Very true Andy!
Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Looking back at 2011
I couldn’t agree with you more. In the end they only thing that truly matters is our relationship with Christ. This is the only resolution that really has any lasting effect. Yhat was indeed why I wrote the new years resolution post that I did. Glad to see that great minds think alike
Rev. Gerald Collins recently posted..New Year’s Resolutions Ideas
Great minds do think alike!
Thanks for sharing Gerald!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..4 steps to teach our children to make right choices
Basically, what you said is exactly where I’m at. More and more convinced that nothing else will make a difference. Since I’ll be with the Lord eternally, I want to be prepared for that Life-Change, not faced with a number of “oops!”.
Joanne Norton recently posted..ISAIAH 54:2,13
Our relationship with God has to be our number one priority in life!
Thanks for sharing Joanne!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Surrender
“…Know God more deeply..” There is “something” inside of everything and everybody that connects us, there is a force, a light, an entity, a whole that makes the world, the universe, ONE.
For many God is a separate entity, something that we can’t reach, we can’t see, we can’t understand… well, what if this entity is inside us, what if it is the force that unify us?
Just a thought. Thanks for your post!
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I think that when we see see things outside of us from God’s position, asking ourselves how does God see this? what would God do now in this specific situation, then immediately enter in a peace mode. And for there any resolution is possible.
Good points! Thanks for sharing Patricia!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..4 ways to teach our kids to value integrity