Daily Devotional For Saturday, December 30, 2023

Well, I imagine you might be glad I am getting away from long devotionals as the last two have been. If you read them, you know they were about helping you have a daily quiet time with God. Well, we are about to close out 2023. Just one more day. I know that many people make New Year's Resolutions (NYR), only most never finish them or stick to them. There is nothing wrong in making these New Year's Resolutions, except that willpower is often not enough. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. (6) Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take" (NLT). I have discovered that many never achieve their NYRs for several reasons. 

1. First, they are not based on God's purpose for a person's life. Proverbs 19:21 says, "You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail" (NLT). Most of the (NYRs) people make are for themselves, not God. For example, the NYR to lose weight. When was the last time you heard any one say the reason they are going to make a NYR to lose weight was to keep their temple (body) healthy for the Lord based on Scripture? You rarely hear anyone use 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 as the basis for this, which says, "Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, (20) for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body" (NLT). There is nothing wrong in losing weight to get healthier and in better shape, but most of the time we do is limited for ourselves -- not for God's glory and purpose.
2. Second, most people do not expect the challenges or obstacles of fulfilling  NYR will hit them almost the moment they start. It ususally takes a life altering experience or life threatening experience to fuflill a NYR. And if you do attempt, especially for the glory of God, the devil and his demons will come after you. Look at Ephesians 6:12, "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places" (NLT). Most people underestimate how challenging it is to develop new routines and habits, especially godly ones. This is why asking God to help you and basing them on Scripture gives you a better chance of success. Look at Philippians 4:13-14, 19, "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (14) Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty . . .  (19) And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus" (NLT).
3. Third, many people do not set smaller, measurable goals at first. Their goal is big and unmeasurable so they have no way of knowning if they are achieveing it. Look at Proverbs 14:27, "Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house" (ESV). Do you see the order? What good does it do you to build your house but you starve to death? Getting your fields and work done first that is necessary, which is measurable, helps you achive the other goals. 
4. Fourth, most people do not have any type of accountability -- such as another person monitoring them and motivating them to fulfill their NYR. As the song says, "One is the loneliest number." Look at Ecclesiastes 4:19-10, 12, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. (10) If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble . . . (12) A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken" (NLT).

If you decide to set some NYRs, make sure you avoid these four pitfalls above. If you choose to make some NYRs, make sure you are bringing glory to Jesus Christ through them -- that they are not just to benefit you.  

Scripture to Mediate On:  Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need" (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: "Dear Jesus, as a new year is just around the corner, I really do want to be a different person for You in 2024.  I want to do what You commmand in Matthew 6:33 -- Seek You, seek Your will,  seek your purpose for my life so that You can use me to make a difference in this world. I do not want to make New Year's Resolutions that are soley self-centered and only about me. I am going to commit in the next day or two to make godly goals -- goals that help me honor You, bring You glory and build Your kingdom. I ask that You help me do this, in Jesus' name, Amen!"