I Am Not Making a New Years Resolution...

...and here is why.

Every time I do, I fail.

The tradition of the New Years Resolution has been one of those things that I used to participate in. 

I would say things like: 

I am going to read my Bible first thing in the morning; 

I am going to clean my house everyday; 

I am going to not yell at my kids.

And then, the morning rolls around and I am exhausted 

so I hit snooze just one more time, and then I have missed my alone time to read.

Or the end of the day comes, and the kids are finally in bed, 

so hubby and I sit on the couch and promptly fall asleep.

OR my kids find some new form of destructive behavior for the umpteenth time today, 

and I end up red faced and embarrassed because I lose my temper again.

All of these things are good things to resolve to do, don't get me wrong. 

But, the reality of the New Years Resolution is that I am taking God out of the equation. 

I am setting myself up for failure from the beginning, 

because apart from Him, I can do nothing.

Instead, I will pray.

I will pray for a desire and a love so deep for my Savior, 

that I cannot help but get up and read my Bible.

I will pray for the rest I need and the strength to fold that last load of laundry and 

to put that last load of dishes in the dishwasher.

I will pray for the grace and mercy that has been shown to me, to overflow into how I handle that temper tantrum, the pile of toys that need to be put away, 

and that "sweet" little three-nager who has replaced my child. 

I will fail at all of these things, but I will find new grace and mercy each time, 

and will pray even more.

I pray because that is where my strength is found. 

Only in my brokenness can the love of God shine through. 

Only in my weakness can His strength be shown in me.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This year, I will pray, I will seek, and I will stay on my face at the feet of Jesus.

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