res·o·lute

[ˈrezəˌlo͞ot]

ADJECTIVE

1. admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering:

Here we are … another year has passed and a new one has begun. Everyone is determining what their New Year’s resolution will be, vowing to reach grand ambitions for 2024 without wavering. We will be pumped up and full of energy to begin working on our resolutions on January 2nd. (We have to eat our black-eyed peas and hog’s jowl on January 1st after all.) Alas, usually by January 31st, those resolutions are gone with the wind. Let’s be truthful, most of us are not very resolute after all.

I don’t do resolutions. I’ve accepted the fact that I’m not resolute enough for such high aspirations. For myself, New Year’s Day is just a flip of the calendar. What if, instead of making resolutions for 2024, we first review and shed behaviors of 2023? Perhaps that’s the only way to be truly resolute.

This past year has been bad for everyone. Natural disasters have wreaked havoc and changed thousands of lives forever. There has been so much violence, killing countless innocent victims. We seem to be standing on the edge of WWIII.  The cost of living is so astronomically high, I don’t understand how some families make ends meet. There are thousands of homeless people living on the streets in both cities and small towns. There have been protests of every kind, both for good and for evil. Our own government seem helpless to do what we pay them to do. The world is becoming increasingly evil, and its influence is rapidly spreading.

There is little I can do to bring about change to these events which is why I pray. So, I am going to search a little closer to home to shed 2023 … my own life.

I have not been faithful to God even though He has always been faithful to me. I haven’t even been faithful to my own church attendance. I have not answered His call when I heard that still small voice about visiting or calling someone. I didn’t write when the Holy Spirit gave me the words, and I have robbed myself and others of a blessing by not obeying. I have said things in anger that I shouldn’t have said.  I’ve repented thousands of thoughts I had that I shouldn’t have had. I have gossiped when I should’ve been praying. I’ve wasted time watching TV instead of diligently seeking God’s face.  I’ve held grudges of people I thought had done me wrong. What could I have done or prayed for that might have made a difference?

Now I can see clearly how I should’ve been living throughout 2023. I choose to shed my shortcomings of 2023 and walk into 2024 with new determination, even if I slip once in a while. Maybe instead of resolutely vowing to lose weight in the new year, we forgive someone who has done us wrong. Instead of concentrating on giving up bad habits, we pick up good habits by visiting someone in the nursing home. Instead of gossiping about someone, we witness the salvation Jesus gave us to them. Instead of watching TV, we read a Psalm or two.

I want to strive to be a better servant for God in the new year. I want to be found doing His will in my life no matter what happens. Maybe we don’t need a resolution for 2024 after all; we just need more of Him.

Happy Flip-the-Calendar Day!