Changing … Improving …Letting God Change My Life ME in 2018
New Year’s Resolutions rarely work because we can’t ever really do everything we plan to do, or be all we hope to be. We are human, prone to failure. The things we want to do we don’t do, and things we don’t want to do, we tend to do anyway. That’s nothing new. (Rom. 7:14-15) I’m fifty-seven years old. You would think I would have learned this by now.
I always strive (there’s a phrase I need to re-evaluate) to be the best at whatever I do, which is not always a bad thing. The Bible says that whatever we do we are to do it “heartily” – whole-heartedly, enthusiastically, energetically according to my thesaurus …(Col. 3:23). But I realize I’m kind-of a perfectionist. Since I was just a little girl, I always envisioned myself accomplishing great things for God in my life.
So, I continually planned, worked, sacrificed to do whatever it took to succeed. Maybe it was because I thought God wouldn’t accept me. This was never a conscious idea. I knew from Scripture that God loves me unconditionally no matter what. But maybe ingrained deeply in my sub-conscious I believe that God doesn’t really accept me as I am. Maybe because of rejection and abandonment as a child. Who knows? It really doesn’t matter WHY I have spent my life striving. It matters that I need to stop striving and let God change in me whatever needs to be changed, instead of trying to change myself. This doesn’t mean I should be lazy and do nothing. Whatever I do I should do heartily, but not for acceptance by God or others. Not for my own personal satisfaction. Not out of pride…I am to do whatever I do in Jesus name, for Him and for the glory of God. (Col. 3:17, 23: I Cor. 10:31)
Lord, this past year has been challenging with much change, many uncertainties, and some disappointments. I don’t feel like I have lived up to my own expectations. I certainly don’t think I have walked as close to You as I should. But You have blessed me abundantly, provided my needs, and given me opportunities to serve You above and beyond what I could ever have hoped for.
However, there are some areas in my life that I truly want to change in 2018, but I can’t change myself or make myself better. You have been teaching me how little control I really have apart from You. Your Word tells me that You are faithful (I Thes. 5:24), and You will accomplish Your purpose in my life. You began a good work in me when I was just a little girl, and You promise that You will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6) You will do this, not me, because I can’t do anything to make myself better. Help me to let go of my striving and let You change not just my life, but me.
Make me more JOYFUL (Phil 4:4)
Help me LAUGH more often (Psalm 126:2, Proverbs 17:22)
Show me how to be more BALANCED (Eccl. 2:17-23)
Help me learn to live more SIMPLY! (Luke 12:22-24)
Prompt me to PRAY more fervently about everything (James 5:16)
Give me patience to WAIT on You expectantly (Psalm 27:13-14; 37:5-7))
Help me to LOVE others better (John 13:34-35)
I’m sure there are many other things that need to change in my life! But for today as the year of 2017 ends, will You take these areas of my life (and others that I may not even be aware of) and will You change me? In 2018, I have no resolutions except to let You do Your good work in me.