Each New Year’s Day, I ask God for a scripture that captures what He wants to teach me during the coming year. He has not failed to give me direction for more years than I remember. I finally started printing a copy of the scripture and keep them, reviewing them periodically.
This year, I had an idea about what He wanted to say to me. But I didn’t have peace about it. The scripture I was thinking of relied on me to act on it and that’s not what He wants me to learn. I was wrestling with what it was to be. I’d sought out what I was thinking, copied several versions into a document but could not press the print button. I’ve learned when I have no peace to wait until I do. When I sat down to do my morning time seeking God’s face, I believe He instructed me to read over some faith promises I speak over myself and my family each day. One caught my eye and I looked up the associated scripture. There it was, what He wants me to learn.
Ps 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy {and} loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever–forsake not the works of Your own hands. AMP
I understood as I read that my own efforts have always failed me. My personality is to fix things, to go do what is necessary and to get it done. NOW!!! I have had to spend time my entire Christian life learning patience and trusting God’s timing and this year is to be a new, deeper level of learning that lesson. I also need a deeper level of understanding that I am truly the work of His hands. I must cooperate with Him but the changes in my life need to originate with Him, not me. Indeed, I have definitely not arrived, as the saying goes. I am still a work in progress and I need to learn better how to let Him give the direction as to how His changes are accomplished in and through me. I have never been one for resolutions but I believe I will learn to document God’s goals for me and my life in a new way this year. Then, His work will be seen and He will get the credit and glory for what He does, not me. I am excited that I will get to give Him worship, praise and adoration for His work as I cooperate with what He instructs me to do.
Have you made resolutions for yourself for the New Year? Did you seek God about them?
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