NEW-MOMENT RESOLUTION

We have all made a commitment or two in our life. Sometimes they have been with a real intent to accomplish it, but sometimes it has been with the knowledge that we have no real care to see it through. Either way, we have all made a commitment. The questions is, how many of those commitments have we actually seen through to the end? And how many to their fullest extent possible? If we are all honest with ourselves, we have all found that small little way around our commitment at least once. We have probably told ourselves, “A loophole isn’t necessarily a bad thing.” Or, “I’ll work harder on this next time to make up for it.” No matter the excuse we have given, we have managed to find a way around our commitment at least once.

You probably already know where I am going with this post considering the historic day that we have just celebrated: New Year’s Day! The day that many will tell themselves “New year, new me!” And then confidently go into the year probably not making any real significant change to their person that really does constitute them being a new person. Let me be clear, I am first pointing the finger at myself before casting judgement on anyone else. I am holding a mega mirror in front of myself first. I have made more than enough New Year’s resolutions for my entire family, and rarely have they been seen through to completion, if ever. I don't know about you, but I have actually gotten to a point where I never make these resolutions anymore. I got tired of trying to persuade myself to do something new with my life only to know I would lose sight of it decently early into the new year. Because of this, it has been a good couple of years since my last real intended resolution.

I remember a couple of years back, I was still in high school and very young in my faith. I had been saved for years but never committed myself to a real life of serving God. So, as any fervent, young, and excited Christian would do, I told myself with a determined tone, “This will be the year that I grow stronger in my faith!” I told myself I would read more of the Bible than I ever had in a year, I would be more active in church than ever, and I would have a prayer life stronger than ever. While I wish I could say that I managed to do all of these things, I fell very short very quickly. If I could go back now, I would have told myself to sit down and think about it. Not that I regret the attitude I had towards this goal, but the depth that I was attempting to go was not very realistic for me at the time. No, I am not doubting that the Holy Spirit can do great things in even those young in faith, but I am saying that I was nowhere near ready to start this commitment just yet. I needed to wean my way into this new lifestyle. Paul tells the people of Corinth that he fed them milk, not solid food, because they were not ready for it. This was because they were still people of flesh (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). While my attitude was in the right place, I was still a big person of a fleshly life and desires. I wanted to have a strong faith but was still wanting too much of the world also.

So, because of this huge commitment I made to myself, I ended up not keeping it (shocker I know). If I am not mistaken, I am pretty sure I barely made it a month into this resolution of mine (embarrassing I know). So, when the day came that I woke up and remembered that I forgot to read my Bible the day prior, I told myself I would do double that day! And when my busy day (whatever that meant as a high schooler) came to a close and I was in bed, I remembered that I once again forgot. So, I gave up. I said it is obvious I could not do as much as I was wanting. So, I figured I would just give up. I mean, “There’s always next year!” Right? See, that seems to be my grief with New Year’s resolutions. We feel that if we have fallen off, even one or two days, of our trail, it will be too much work to get back… So, we quit and wait till next year.

This is why I propose something new: no more “New Year” resolutions, but a “New-moment” resolution. Let us not think that because we made a commitment for the new year and did not see it through that we should quit, but let us start fresh the very moment we fall short of our goal. Let us re-adjust to our current circumstance and go again with a new fervency to see it complete! I don’t know what that means for you. Maybe it is hitting the gym more or eating healthier. Maybe it is reading your Bible more, or committing one hour a day to prayer, or maybe even speaking to every person that crosses your path about Jesus. All I am saying is not to let your mind believe that a new resolution can only come at the new year. DON’T WAIT! The moment that a new idea crosses your mind to better your life or your walk with Christ. Implement it immediately to your life! It also doesn’t have to be a whole year commitment. Start small. Do something new for one week, and then if it worked well, at the end of that week you can extend it to a month. If it didn’t, adjust and go again until you hit your groove. Just never think that it has to be a new year to be a new you! Live your best life for Christ everyday of every week. We are not guaranteed a new year, or even tomorrow for that matter (James 4:13-15, Proverbs 27:1). Start making your best life in this current moment. “No time like the present” is a common phrase is it not? Or in the beautiful words of the ever so famous Shia LaBeouf, “JUST DO IT! MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!” (If you need a little motivation for the new year, I highly recommend you find that video... Just throwing it out there).

If we are truly going to adjust our sight to that life in Heaven. If we really want to live with an eternal mindset, we cannot let our belief be that the new year will come to past. What a horrible scenario it would be for you to say that you will speak to your neighbor that you know is not saved about Jesus tomorrow, or promised to have a better faith life starting in the upcoming year, all only to find that it never came? That Jesus really did come back like a thief in the night to take us home (1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10, Rev. 16:15) and those moments never happened. Let us make sure that this scenario never happens. Join with me in making a new-moment resolution that you will be the very best you, for Christ and yourself, starting right this moment! So, talk to that unsaved neighbor right now, pick up that Bible immediately, make amends with that family or friend that you have hurt, forgive that person that hurt you, or better yourself in your faith in this exact moment. I beg you to do this because, friend, we are NOT guaranteed even another second on this earth, so make this moment count for everything it is worth! Eternity is just around the corner, so do everything you can now to prepare for it!

A little advice to end this post: don’t do it alone. Take time right now to humbly go to your knees in prayer to God. Ask Him for strength to do these things. Ask that, even if challenges arise or problems persist, He walks beside you in this commitment. He wants to help you do this and He will. Take time to be with Him and ask for His guidance. Maybe you are stuck knowing that you need to do something new, but don’t know what that change is. Call out to our God that is always listening for our prayers!