New Year's Resolution 
By Mike Rule

As this year winds to a close, many of us will be entering into the new year making resolutions to improve ourselves, lose weight, exercise more, be a better husband or wife or parent, grow spiritually, read more scripture, pray more, etc. Many of us will work hard to follow through on our resolutions but will ultimately fail and wind up in a heap of guilt and self-condemnation, only resolving to try even harder the next time. In the midst of this the Lord has something to say to us. His word to us is to go ahead and try as hard as we want, but when we fail miserably He will be waiting for us. When we are sick of trying hard and failing, He wants us to rest - rest in Him trusting that He is not asking us to improve or to work harder. He wants us to realize that as His children, He could not be more pleased with us than He is at this moment. We are His, He loves us just as we are, and no matter how much we improved He could not love us more.

The enemy would have us believe the lie that we need to be "better." He drives us to work harder at improvement so that we will be more acceptable to God and ourselves. But there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and the lie that we need to improve can only come from the pit of hell. The writer of Colossians reminds us that we are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). God wants us to know Him and His love. As we walk, His love and His life will change our outlook and attitude on everything, hence, everything else changes. (1 John 2:3-5)

Verses for Reflection:

"Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and ALL these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

"Come to me all who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly I heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 12:28-30