My Resolution!


It's 2007 and time for New Year's resolutions. But what is a resolution anyhow? I looked it up in the dictionary and there are many definitions, depending on what you are talking about: a computer screen, the law, music, optics, or a solution. The definition I liked for the occasion is "firmness of purpose". When I look ahead at the goal, my purpose is defined and I can press on toward the goal.


So, as I look at this year, I have a few goals. The normal things like, more exercise, eating less and healthier, reading my Bible, yada yada yada....good things, yes....but the goal is "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. (Phil. 3:14) Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us RUN with perseverence the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such oppoosition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1b-3) When it comes to sin, my dear friend reminds me that we must RUN. We can not do as our Old Testament friends and tear down the idols, but not destroy completely. We must tear completely down the idols so as to not let the devil have a foot in the door. When we fail to completely destroy the things that entangle us, it is so easy to let those things creep back into our lives. I want to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus......the goal. I want to RUN to Him.


The verse above says "who for the joy set before him endured the cross". What was that joy? How could he find joy in such suffering? His heart was filled with joy knowing that his actions would give hope to those who had no hope. His actions would give us salvation and eternity in fellowship with Him! When I consider his actions, I need not grow wearing and lose heart in this race. Hebrews 12:4 goes on to say "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." So I run. Run with perseverence to the goal. Not looking back. My eyes fixed on the Savior.....the one who did shed His precious blood for me.


Is your resolution or purpose firm? Are you running toward the goal and away from sin? Have you completely torn down "the idols" in your life (those things that take the place of Jesus having completely control of your heart)? Are your eyes fixed on the Savior? Make this your resolution this year!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hence the reason for disallowing His people to intermarry. He wanted His people to remain pure. So it is with us; we need to be seperated from all that is not God, so that we may remain unsoiled by the filth of the earth.
January 2, 2007 at 3:51:00 PM EST
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IN A PIT WITH A LION ON A SNOWY DAY!

Image
I bought this book a while back that I really wanted to read and I am just now getting to it. It has a crazy title, but upon reading chapter 1, you totally get it. It's based on 2 Samuel 23:20-23 where Benaiah killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. The book is about facing your fears to take the risks of the opportunities that God has given us. Over the next few days as I read this book, I want to share some of the highlights, as already in chapter one I have been challenged. Here are a few challenges from chapter 1: 1. "God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time. But the right place often seems like the wrong place, and the right time often seems like the wrong time." 2. "I recognize this simple truth: The greatest opportunities were the scariest lions. Part of me has wanted to play it safe, but I've learned that taking no risks is the greatest risk of all." 3. "I think the church has fixated on sins of ...
Read more

In A Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day....Chapter 3

It has been a really busy week and I have read Chapter 3, but haven't had a chance to post about it. When I got an email yesterday asking "Where is chapter 3?" I figured I had better get on that! I really appreciate those of you who faithfully read and comment. It encourages me to keep on sharing. Sometimes you wonder if what you have to say ever makes a hill of beans difference in anyone else's life. I pray that the words here on this blog will encourage and inspire your relationship with God in a new way. I know it hold me accountable to keep my relationship with God going strong. I pray that for all of us that we will "no longer be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds". So, on that note....chapter THREE!!! First, I realized that I haven't really shared with you what "chasing lions" is all about. Beneniah killed a lion in 2 Samuel 23:20-23 . I am sure it was one of the scariest moments of his life, yet the m...
Read more

Facing the Giants

Image
Have you seen the movie "Facing the Giants"? I am becoming very familiar with it, as Pastor Roger and I are doing a sermon series based on the movie. I will be preaching two of the sermons in the series. The two sermons I will be preaching are titled "Never Give Up!" and "Complete Surrender", and boy oh boy, I feel like I am being tested in these areas!!! My husband is trying to sell a big CNC Router. Yesterday a crew flew in from New Jersey to look at it and test it out. They were here all day and it looked as if tey were going to buy it. (This machine cost more than my first house and we really need to sell it) As they were finalizing things, they tried one last cut with the machine. Long story short, the machine ran out of fuel, which caused the air compressor to quit, which caused a malfunction in te air hydrolics and the whole head of te machine came crashing down, causing about $15,000. worth of damage. UGH!!!!! In the Facing the Giants movie, if you...
Read more