By: Ginger Hughes
This is the time of year when we break out the pen and paper, the planner or journal, and begin to write down those resolutions. You know the ones where we resolve to lose some weight, exercise rigorously, and cut out sweets. Or perhaps we aspire to have a more organized home, cut back on spending, or eat more organic foods.
And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with making resolutions in the hopes of improving our health or well-being, perhaps we should focus on some other things as well.
Rather than lose weight, what if we resolve to gain courage?
Rather than walk a mile each day, what if we commit to walk alongside someone who is hurting?
Rather than work out with weights, what if resolve to work out our faith?
Rather than organize our stuff, what if we commit to giving more of it away?
Rather than focus on ourselves, what if we focus on others?
Rather than chase happiness, what if we bring a smile to someone else’s face?
Rather than seek perfection, what if we seek our Perfect Savior?
In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi remembering all he has accomplished throughout his life. Paul writes, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Let’s resolve to make 2019 a year of something far greater than weight loss or organized closets.
This year let’s resolve to share more kindness, extend more grace, and show more mercy. Let’s resolve to offer forgiveness and share generously.
Ultimately let’s resolve, as did the Apostle Paul, to press on.
To press on…
Forgetting what lies behind except for that which offers lessons or wisdom.
To press on…
Embracing our heritage as a beloved son or daughter of Almighty God.
To press on…
Remembering we are fully known and fully loved.
To press on…
Surrendering our will and our plans to the One whose will is perfect.
To press on, “Toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
-Ginger Hughes is the wife of a pastor, a mother of two and an accountant. She is a Georgia native currently living in the foothills of North Carolina. Her passion for writing is fueled by the desire to offer encouragement, grace and a deeper understanding that we are all God’s children. Her blogging for Nurturing Faith is sponsored by a gift from First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Ga. Additional writings may be found at nomamasperfect.com.
