New Year's Resolution

In third grade I was ahead of my class in our reading program.  Each new level had a color that coincided with it.  I was in the color “olive”.  How is that for a memory?   My teacher for some reason didn’t like me even though I was a good student, and didn’t cause any trouble.  She had her “pets” and everyone knew who they were.  If you weren’t on her “A” list you didn’t count in her class.

One day, she decided to make an example out of me. She told the class that I was sort of cheating and that is how I got to the higher reading level.  It was not true.  Why she didn’t come to me with her suspicions, I don’t know.  But here I was, a shy, fine student and this teacher embarrassed and humiliated me in front of the class.  She spoke death to me.

On the other hand, a doctor, a forensic psychiatrist, would play a big role in the success I have had in life.  I had been through many difficult circumstances and he never stopped believing in me.  There were times when I doubted myself, but because he believed in me, I believed in me.  He always had confidence in me. I wanted him to be right so I would try to live up to his expectations. He spoke life into me.

God’s word, what He says and thinks about each one of us, is clear in the Bible.  He loves us, He adores us, He forgives us, He gives us a new nature, He blesses us and sent His son to die for us. Those are just to name a few.  It is clear from Genesis to Revelation He speaks life into us.

Now there is one other person who speaks to you daily.  That is you.  What you tell yourself about yourself and your circumstances makes all the difference in the world.  It is a fact that you can’t control what other people do or say but you can control what you think and say.   To reinforce this, you must focus on what God says about you. You can then learn to speak His words into your life. 

We are given a choice in Deuteronomy 30:19 - “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

I can’t imagine that anyone would knowingly choose death and curses but it happens all the time.  That negative self-talk and vengeful and unforgiving thinking does not and never will produce life in you.  The only way I know to stay on course is to stay in the Word and repeat, memorize, and meditate on what He says about me.  Pretty soon it becomes much more natural.  The more natural it becomes the more easily I breeze through my daily routine and better handle unforeseen circumstances.

You see, simply being saved is not enough.  Oh, being saved is good all right but there is more to this eternal life than just getting to Heaven.  Eternal life starts here and now and it is all about a road to recovery.  Recovering what has been stolen, maybe even your true purpose in life.

So the greatest New Year’s Resolution you can make is to learn to speak life into yourself.  It will likely come with opposition but it will be so worth the fight.  You have the potential to gain back what you have lost.  The difference between this and self-help is that you’re not doing it yourself but you are partnering with the Holy Spirit and He will guide you to new heights. 

                                                           B – Basic

                                                           I – Instructions

                                                           B – Before

                                                           L – Leaving

                                                           E – Earth

That might be a clever way to say what the Bible is but God gave us a manual for life.  A how-to manual and it’s not just filled with great advice but with the power of life itself.  Do what you want, you don’t have to study it. It’s your choice.  God gives the answer and He says in his word to choose “life”. 

Or you can go ahead, say you are going to lose weight, or quit smoking, or start working out, or get organized, etc.  Those are all good things.  But on what foundation are you building?  Based on past resolutions, by February will you see any lasting changes? 

Here’s how I will attempt to help: One week.  One Scripture.  You memorize it and speak it out loud over your life.  The first one I have embedded so deeply in my own life that it has become the foundation for every positive change I have ever made. 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) - “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

If this is helpful to you please post in the comments to let me know I should continue through the month of January. 

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!