This year I have been challenged and grown in more ways than one. It has been a process. A lovely process indeed. But it does not always mean that it has been easy or smooth. I have stumbled, seen God's grace, and persevere in ways I didn't realize I could.
As with all posts around the new year, I am thinking about fresh ways to start 2025. Should I make a list? Should I check it twice?
Wait... wrong holiday
But in reality, I find new year's resolutions to be a somewhat painful process. You believe you can do anything, but consistently you fail at it.
Resolutions have made me realize how greatly I need a savior and a guide in my life. Honestly, it is hard to complete the tasks I have set for myself. Partly because they were of my own creation.
After failing many times, I started to think that resolutions were pointless. It wasn't even worth the time and effort to think of them. But this felt listless and often had me navigating existential spaces that are not helpful.
Then a few years ago, I set a goal to read the bible all the way through. I gave myself one year. I found myself working hard to try to accomplish this goal. It was refreshing to see myself grow in this area. I saw God show up in so many ways and I learned so much about God through this reading. This process changed my understanding of goals and resolutions. These things are not bad in themselves but "with God, all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26). When my goal became God centered, I realized how rewarding it was to grow in my faith and be renewed by the Holy Spirit.
So in this new year, I want to set some resolutions that are God-centered, God-honoring, and given to me by him. The goal is that at the end of the year, I have something to look back to and see how far I've come, or how I've changed throughout this year.
1) Create a blog post once a month that is related to faith, prayer, or scripture
2) Become more involved at my church in TN, attending prayer meetings and bible study
3) Invite people over once a month for a meal, whether that is classmates, friends, or neighbors
I look forward to the new year God has in store for me. As it says in Lamentations, "his mercies are new every morning, great is your faithfulness" (Lam. 3:23). With each morning and new day in this new year, I wait expectantly to see how God will provide and work through my life.
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