Going All In for 2014

There are a lot of joggers running by my house today. More than usual — I’m guessing there will be more tomorrow. The number one resolution for 2013 is, “Lose weight”. Historically, the most commonly broken New Years Resolution is —  you guessed it, “Lose weight.”

It seems to have become a bit of a trend to hate on New Years Resolutions. Perhaps it is because they are such a joke. But we are Christians, you and I. We should be well acquainted with resolutions, which are really just covenants we make with ourselves — which is arguably part of the problem — making a promise with our own self, to our own self.  The truth is, we can’t attain any goal without Christ carrying us over the finish line, and I’m willing to bet part of the reason we break our resolutions so often is because:

1. We aren’t asking God to help, and

2. We are pursuing goals that aren’t the goals God wants us to.

Last year my resolution was, “To be a better wife and mom.”   My ideas about what that goal would entail were pretty vague, but it sounded noble and certainly looked good on paper, so that part was nice.  Honestly, 2013 ended up being a very challenging year for me.  Countless tears,  much heartache,  and many sleepless nights — seriously, just ask my husband because he held me through it all. But I don’t have any regrets. All those tough times were outnumbered many times over by good times. Maybe it is more accurate to say that 2013 was a full year for me —  I got way more than I bargained for in the last 12 months. There was lots of joy, and lots of laughter. I learned a lot of new things and was surprised often.  For the first time in my life, we (God and I) kept my New Years Resolution.  I can honestly say I am a better wife and a better mom then I was this time last year — I know this because I asked those closest to me. They said that they have watched me become more joyful, more fun, and more gracious than I was before — praise be to God.  Ben and I spent a lot of time really working at our marriage this year and I honestly feel much closer to my husband, which is particularly encouraging to a girl who came from a broken home. 12 years, 4 kids, 7 moves and several careers later and my guy and I love each other more than ever before. This is incredible to me. How is that possible? This year, I also feel like I’ve begun to glimpse the way God sees me — which is completely blowing my mind! Of course, all this success has absolutely nothing to do with me. I would have given up last January, but God knew better and without consulting me, He took my goal seriously. I am so thankful that He did.

This year, I’m making another resolution, but it kinda includes last years too (always room to learn and grow). This year, I am asking God to keep turning my life up-side-down. I am asking Him to keep me hungry for Christ. I am asking that He continue to transform me into the person He designed me to be: a reflection of Him.

I would like to invite you to join me. I promise that this will be the best commitment you ever make. I promise that it will rock your world. I promise that you will be fulfilled. I promise you will finally feel really, truly loved. But before you say yes, you need to know that this isn’t going to be easy — we have to really want this badly enough to die for it.  But God will help you, and I want to help you, too, if I can.

I’m not sure what this resolution will actually end up looking like in 2014.  I don’t know what God has planned, but I know He has a plan and I know it is better than anything I could come up with.  If you really want to change, if you really want to become a better person, if you really want to bless the ones you love the most, you need to use your life as a down-payment on the biggest investment you’ll ever make.

So who is with me? I would love to connect with you, read with you, pray with you and learn along side you this year. Who wants to be resolution buddies?

“If we cooperate with Him in loving obedience, God will manifest Himself to us, and that manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the light of His face.”

― A.W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God