Yesterday morning I saw a church sign that just made me chuckle. “May your troubles be as short as your New Year’s Resolutions.” I know in my own life, my resolutions have been little more than fodder for future regrets. I may have had very good intentions, but somewhere along January 3rd I got off course and my goals became wishful thinking. Last year I was so discouraged by my past failures that I resolved to not make any resolutions. If I don’t try, I can’t fail…right?
As I look at the new year before me, I am filled with excitement, apprehension and a lot of hope. But along with my own dreams of what may come I have had several thoughts that I believe are from the Lord that I would like to share with you over my next several posts. The first is this…
God has a plan for my life.
This, most likely, is not a shocking revelation to you…it certainly isn’t for me…but think about that truth for a moment. God has a plan for my life…for your life. I love to make plans and checklists. I love to imagine great things and hope that someday my dreams will come true. But I wonder…
How short sighted are my dreams in God’s eyes?
Over my Christmas vacation I picked up a book by Randy Alcorn called Dominion. One of the storylines is of a young woman who had recently died, watching her brother struggle through his grief in the Shadowlands, her name for earth. The day that she died her brother shared with her his dream of moving to the country, away from the crime of the city, so that his family could be safe and they could live a life of peace and comfort away from all that was unpleasant about the world around them. After burying his sister due to a drive by shooting, this young man asked God why He was doing this to him. What about his dreams…were they too big for God? God’s response to his broken heart was…no, your dreams were not too big…they were too small. The rest of the story went on to tell how this man moved his family into his sister’s home at the heart of the inner city and how, through the Holy Spirit’s power, he and others in the neighborhood began to fight back against the evil around them to take back their neighborhood from the gangs. Young lives were saved from crime and early death because he decided to trade in his dreams for God’s plan for his life.
I have big dreams, big goals, big resolutions for 2012, but are my dreams God-sized dreams? If I pray only for those things that I desire to happen, will I be short-changing myself? I wonder what might happen if I pray for God’s dreams for my life to come true? What miracles would I witness that are so great that I can’t even imagine them, much less pray for them?
So, my first resolution for 2012 is to pray for God-sized dreams. I am praying that God will do as He promised to do in Psalm 37:4. I am praying that He will give me the desires of my heart, but that He will first place in my heart His desires. I don’t want to get to heaven and realize that my dreams were too small. Do you?
So tell me…what are some of your resolutions for the new year? How do you think God might want to work in you and through you this year? Share your thoughts with me below. I’d love to hear from you!
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare (good) and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
– Jeremiah 29:11
Photo credit: Stuck in Customs / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Our family doesn’t do resolutions so much as we pick a theme for the year. This year’s theme is Love, and trying to motivate all actions by a love for God and each other. It’s so basic, but that’s what makes it important. Everything Jesus did for us was based out of His love and the Father’s love. It’s so pivotal to living the Christian life. So this year, we’re trying to not focus on the frustrations of raising a toddler, but to nurture and love her. Trying not to focus on the hubby’s flaws, but to love and honor him. We could all use a little more love 🙂
And my mom got Indescribable for Christmas and it’s a beautiful book!
What a great idea Kara! I have heard of churches doing this, but I never thought to make it personal. The love of Christ is such an important aspect to focus on too. If we could really get a firm grasp on how much He really does love us, it would dramatically change our lives. I wish you success in your growth spiritually and as a family this year!
Love this!! I certainly needed to hear it. As for resolutions…fostering a closer relationship to my Great Savior and being a prayer warrior for my husband. Those are my goals this year.
I could add that a goal would be to get a certain someone to move to Alabama, but then…that might be short-sighted from God’s goal. 🙂 BTW, Pastor quoted from Louie Giglio’s book “Indescribable” a few Sundays ago. 🙂 Even put the book cover on the screens and told everyone they should read it!
Those are great resolutions for the new year Beth Anne! The Lord has really been speaking to me about the importance of prayer as well. I really think it is the key to a deep relationship with God and for great power through the Holy Spirit.
I have started the Indescribable book, but have only gotten through the first few chapters. I am so amazed and the majesty of God’s creation and the wealth of wonder He has supplied us through the beauty of the universe He created. You’ll have to get the book for yourself and tell me how you like it!