Sunday, January 31, 2010

Growing Deeper, Richer, Fuller

This whole month I have been thinking a great deal on this past year and this new year. So much happened in such a short amount of time ... and now the cycle has begun again. But before I start with some thoughts on this year, a few moments of reflection would be nice.

At the beginning of last year, after reading The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, I came to the conclusion that resolutions are a very fine thing if they are done in God's power and not our own, much like Mr. Edwards says in his preface: "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will for Christ's sake." So, for the first time in a very long time, I resolved to resolve. It was indeed by God's grace that He allowed me to stand as firmly as I did. I know that I haven't been perfect; in fact, there were times I failed. Thankfully, that's not how our Lord looks at us. That is to say, that He isn't waiting and watching to see how often we fail so that He can then say "I'm done with you." No, instead, when we fall He will pick us up (if we let Him), say that we are forgiven, remind us His grace is sufficient, then let us carry on with Himself walking beside us once again. And that's what He did for me. I know that, in my own power, I could never be as true to Him as I'd like to be, that's why He tells us to come to Him. And in looking backwards, His promises were true throughout the year, He drew me closer to Him, allowing me to grow closer into His image.

Well, now for the year ahead.... Resolutions one the first day of the year are nice, but there is another thing I like about Mr. Edwards' resolutions: they weren't necessarily written on the first of the year, for the duration of that year, and then it was okay to quit. No, Mr. Edwards' resolutions were from that point - that day, whichever day that might have been - from then until the end of his life. And I truly think that's a God-honoring way to live our life. Spiritually we should never quit striving for something, because on this earth we can never fully attain.

So, at this moment, this last day of the month, dated January 31, 2010, I shall add onto the list as found in II Timothy 2:15 & I Peter 3:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" This year and in the years to come, but especially this year because it's an area that needs strengthening, it is my goal to dig deeply into the Word of God. Not because I've neglected reading His Word because there are studies I'm involved in, but my own personal study needs to be deeper, richer, fuller. For myself, yes, very much so! Because for as much as I grew closer to my Lord, I yearn to grow closer still to the One who loved me first. And also that I may be able to further tell others about the Lord Jesus and to be able to answer any questions they might have about spiritual needs.

And just like I saw in the year past, I know I will see that my Lord - all that He is, all that He has said and promised - is again true in the year ahead.