Scrolling through some of my favorite blogs on these last days of 2013, I am inspired to take a fresh look at the tradition of making “resolutions” for how I plan to live my life in the New Year.
Resolution — “a firm decision to do or not to do something”
(Oxford English Dictionary)
I’m not alone when I admit to being less than successful at fulfilling my own great expectations “to do or not to do something”. Expectations like…..
- To exercise more, eat less
- To trust more, worry less
- To read more, watch TV less
- To save more, spend less
- To speak kindly more often, judge less frequently.
So instead of setting myself up for failure and the resulting self-recrimination, I’m asking The One who orders my days this question…..
“What do YOU resolve to do or not to do in the coming year?”
Because no matter how much control I think I have over my own life, I believe even more deeply in God’s power to orchestrate a plan that is far greater than any I could devise. Greater and infinitely more CREATIVE. And I know He desires to see me move forward into His vision of who I can become, because The One who created me tells me this:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”
And he promises this:
“I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
As I ask God what His plans are for the coming year, I’ll do so with my blank Day Planner at hand, ready to watch Him fill my days. I already know that I will be eager to rush ahead of Him, to take matters into my own hands and make suggestions:
“What about this?” and “Doesn’t this sound like a good idea?”
Because the truth is that even though I know God wants me to surrender to His will, I also know that I want a blueprint of His plans for me so that I can decide whether I want to surrender.
I can trust God with my surrendered will. He has proven Himself over and over in my life. And I believe His plan will be the BEST plan, because not only is my God creative, He is orderly. When I consider all that He has created and the wonder of His creation, how can I not trust that His plans are perfect?
“Give God room to be completely creative,” says author and teacher Beth Moore. “Meet with Him daily as He unfolds the plan in perfect order. He’s really good at what He does.”
I’m waiting, God. I’ll meet you here — today and tomorrow. My days are surrendered to Your will.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Hello Ingrid, I stopped by after reading your comments on Kate’s blog (Serious Thoughts Taken Not So Seriously). I think this post is so inspiring because you have learned first hand that we can’t always plan our own lives and we aren’t really in control, God is—and your trust in Him comes through. Ps. 90:12 is one of my favorite verses, thanks for this thoughtful reflection.
Thank you, Kelly. I’m so glad this resonated with you, and that you made your way to my blog!