Anyone thinking about New Years resolutions? Is there something specific that you are going to try to do... or not do? The upcoming year will hold challenges for all of us. We can begin to prepare now for challenges we may expect, but also for those things in life that one can never imagine that could occur.
How do we go about planning for the unimaginable?
Proverbs 3:5-12
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 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.
7 Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11 My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline,
and don't be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
I know, I could have stopped after the first couple of verses and we could have joined hands and sang kumbayah and gone back to the order of the day with a warm feeling... (sound of needle arm ripping across record) NOT!
Solomon, touted as the wisest man in the world, went on to lay out some responsibilities we have towards God (verses 7 and 9) but then follows up with blessings we can expect from God in return (verses 8 and 10). This portion of scripture (verses 11 and 12) ends with a warning of sorts. Because God loves us, we can expect that He will discipline us when we mess up. Even in this warning, we are assured that correction from God comes because He loves us, He delights in us.
If you are inclined to make new years resolutions, give some thought to these verses as you contemplate changes for the upcoming year. If we will follow the admonishions and encouragements in these verses, we will be better prepared to face the uncertainties the year will bring.
Father, help us to learn what it is to TRUST You in the upcoming year. Help us to be faithful in giving our best to You and to turn away from evil and to not rely on what we perceive to be our own best judgment. God help us to recognize when You are correcting us, and to remember that You discipline us because You love us. May pleasing You be at the heart of all that we do and help us to delight ourselves in Your word and in Your presence. In the name of Your Son Jesus I ask these things for myself and for my friends here, amen.
