“I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.”
Psalm 119:48
Ok, so it’s been over a week since the New Year; anybody still successful with your resolution? If you aren’t – don’t worry. Every day is a new day and His mercies are new every morning.
I polled the more mature women I see at Sweet Monday at the retirement center to see if any of them had made New Year’s resolutions. I wasn’t surprised that none of them did. I think that speaks volumes! There was a lot of wisdom in that room. Goals are wonderful! I think we should all make them. For some reason the goals we seem to make on January 1 are very hard to achieve. Maybe it’s because our goal is a lifestyle change or a lofty ambition and not just an end in itself. Old habits are hard to break and new habits are hard to create.
For some strange reason, the words of my high school football coach are coming to mind. No, I didn’t play football nor did I have a brother who did. But our wonderful coach had an incredible influence far beyond the football field. I’m not sure the theology behind the lesson he was teaching his team, but I do remember that he told them about Shamgar (of Judges 3 and 5). The theme that he drove home with all of the students was “Start where you are.” I might not be able to connect the dots because I didn’t hear the whole explanation, but the point stuck in my life and the Lord has brought it to mind repeatedly.
Whether you’ve already failed at keeping your resolution or you never made one, it’s never too late to start where you are. One thing I always try to do each year is resolve to read my Bible every day. My life has never been changed by an email or a Facebook post, but it has been changed by God’s Word so I want to spend time every day reading God’s post. His words are life giving and life breathing.
And, yes, I’ve already failed.
But I can always start over today.
There is no guilt and no pressure, just a Father who is longing to share His heart with His daughter and I want to hear what He’s got to say. I know that He loves me even if I missed reading or made a mistake yesterday, because I did. But His amazing grace draws me back to His heart over and over.
Sweet Kim always encouraged me the way she would carry her One Year® Bible (pages torn out and tied with a shoestring) with her wherever she went so that she could read God’s word every day of the year. Because of Kim’s wonderful, sweet influence in my life, over the last year and a half I read the One Year® Bible, too! (Did you get that?) =) I’m not sure if they make a Year and a Half Bible, but if they did I’d probably stretch it into two.
Be encouraged sweet friend! Start where you are! There are loads of Bible apps, reading plans, devotional books, and translations of the Bible. For sure there is one for you! At Sweet Monday, we are so blessed to have a daily devotional written by our precious Kim Newlen herself, The One Year® Sweet and Simple Moments with God Devotional. Her love for God and His Word continues to encourage and spur us on one day at a time. What a gift God and Kim have given to us. Together, let’s get into His sweet, life-giving Word.