Bible Verse Resolution Challenge

Out of all the clichés holidays bring, I have to admit the one I am a sucker for is the making of a new year's resolution.  I love beginnings, fresh starts, the sense of another chance, and the hope of a brighter future.  Like a makeover, I feel a new year brings the idea of a new improved self, and a resolution is the "after" picture to take once the makeover is complete.  I understand a lot of people don't like resolutions because they are hard to keep.  We are creatures of habit, after all, and we do not care for the feelings of regret.  So, why set ourselves up for failure?

The reasons why resolutions don't succeed is because we are working on the completely wrong thing.  To be more organized, to lose weight, to do something more charitable, to drink more water, to budget better, and so on and so on are all wonderful aspirations because we know they will improve ourselves.  The thing is, though, they are difficult to achieve.  Even though we try to eat better, spend less money, drink more water, we aren't working on what we really should be in order to complete our resolution.  We should be working on our hearts.

The reason why we resolve to be better goes deep down.  Our hearts are the ones that need a makeover.  Our hearts need to be deeply connected with Christ, the source of newness, the key to improving ourselves.  His love is transformational, and until we allow His love, His truth, His Word seep deep down into our inmost beings, we will never be able to keep a single resolution.

Therefore, I've decided my new year's resolution is to work on my heart.  To do this, I created a chart to have a different Bible verse each week to inspire me and to keep me focused on this resolution.  Besides the Bible verse, I've included a "to do" list and weekly goals.  I printed this chart out (which [oops] got a little wet), put it in a frame (that I of course had to embellish with buttons and such), and placed it along with some dry erase markers in my room, where I will see it every day.

The first verse this week came to me in a devotion, "Do everything without complaining or arguing" (Philippians 2:14).  What a way to start working on the heart and to start off the year, don't you think?

The end of a year brings comfort, too.  It's like the feeling I get when I close a book I've finished reading.  The accomplishment of making it through the ups and downs of another story.  I love the idea that we all begin a new story of our lives with a new year, and we will now begin marking memories with the year 2014 stamped on them.  Make this year full of memories.  Happy 2014.  Let the makeovers begin!

God at Work

"In his defense Jesus said to them, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.'"

John 5:17

 
God is always at His work.  Hallelujah!  He does not rest.  He does not allow circumstances to change His course.  He does not complain.  He does not give up.  What He does do is allow us to work with Him.  Isn't that wonderful and amazing?!  He calls us to be a part of His work. 
 
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Whether or not we choose to work with God, God will be at work.  Always.  If we do choose to work with Him, we are privileged to have God, who is at work, work for the good.  Hebrews 11:40 says that together with us will His plans be made perfect.  Couldn't you go for some perfect plans?  Who better to work with than God Himself?  Why, then, do we resist this partnership? 

I can tell you the reason I have resisted working with God: I don't understand the depth of His love for me.  I believe this is probably the reason we all keep our distance, keep from a fully committed relationship with God, keep from working with Him.  The thing is, the Almighty God in all His glory has chosen us to be His partner.  Us!  You and me. 

Whether or not we understand the depth of this incredible love and grace, we should at the very least accept it and take up His offer.  For me, this is one area I know I'll be asking God to specifically work on.  Thankfully, I am assured He will.  He is always at work.  To this very day.

Heart Health

"A heart at peace gives life to the body."
-Proverbs 14:30a


I like to think our hearts are much like bookshelves.  We store a lot in them.  We pick and choose our emotions according to our moods.  We allow distractions like busyness to keep us from taking time to keep order in our hearts.  We become frustrated easily because we can't find what we are looking for when we need it, but when we do find the one, then we have revived hope.

When I moved to a new school, my new classroom lacked luster and order, much like my heart at times.  I took the blah metal shelves and added color to them by removing all the shelving and sticking on green patterned contact paper on the back of the shelves.  Then, I placed the shelves back in at different heights.  Next, I categorized all my books by genre so that my students would easily find books they might like based on the genre that they're most drawn to.  I put these books into colorful crates that I found at Big Lots and attached laminated genre labels to each crate.  Once I had these shelves complete, I felt more motivated to bring more color and order to the rest of my classroom.  I love how a little bit of organization can give us a whole lot of peace of mind.

Aren't are hearts similar?  Once we bring order back to our hearts and fill them with the luster of God's love, we are revitalized and more motivated to bring color and order to the rest of our lives.  The beauty is, though, that we don't have to do the organizing on our own.  God is there and willing to lend us a hand.  His grace sufficiently brings us to a place of peace.  He takes our messes and makes them into masterpieces.  He tenderly cares for each one of our hearts.  All we have to do is let Him.

Worship

"Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"

Luke 4:8

The other day I had business in Dallas.  As I was being driven back to the airport, I noticed there were police in their cars stationed in every driveway and road for about a mile to the airport.  Then, once I checked-in, I discovered that my flight was delayed as well as every flight trying to leave within the hour.  I walked to my gate and sat down bewildered because many people were standing all along the windows.  After a few moments, excitement filled the gate area, and more people briskly walked toward the windows while reaching in their pockets and purses to pull out their phones.  My gaze followed them to the windows, and there landed the plane of the President of the United States with the President on board.  Ah!  Everything made sense.

What amazed me by all of the hubbub over the President was the thought of worship that entered my mind.  What an odd thought to have!  But I couldn't help noticing how people prepared the way for the president, so I thought about if I did that for God when it came to worship.  Do I block all the pathways that would give access to dangerous distractions?  Do I take time to stop all the traffic that may interfere with my worship?  Do I honor God with holy reverence?  Do I excitedly rush to see a glimpse of God?

I can't say yes to all of these questions, but I can say I have a whole new outlook on how I must honor my Lord when it comes to desiring His presence in my worship.  We have it in us to prepare a way to honor God.  May He continue to bring us ever in awe of His glory.

Detailed Depth

"'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.'"

Matthew 10:29-32 

What I love most about God, which is among an endless list of things I love about Him, is that He takes care of every detail when I trust Him with my life.  Even the most infinitesimal detail is in the great hands of God.  Nothing gets by Him.  Nothing He can't handle.

I believe God desires for us to notice how He takes care of every detail of our lives.  I think it gives Him great pleasure when we do because praise immediately follows recognition of His part and presence in the workings of our lives.  I think He wants to show us more of who He is and what He can do and what He wants to do for us.  

When we begin to notice all the ways God cares for us, especially in the ways we don't even ask for Him to, then we will begin to understand the depth of God's love for us and the worth we are to Him.

The Flaw Fight

The flaws I know I have, I so easily recognize in others.  As a teacher, I passionately try to fix those flaws in my students because I know the struggle, the burden, and the beastly side of those flaws.  It's funny how so quickly we want to change someone else that has the same identical flaws that we battle within ourselves to change.  Like the oxygen masks on an airplane, if we don't first help ourselves, we won't be able to help anyone else.  So, how do we do it?

First, identify one flaw.  Notice I said one.  If you try to take on more than one at a time, you will be defeated before you can conquer any of them.  Begin with one.  Focus on one opponent a time.

Second, pray.  Pray daily for God's help to fight the flaw.  Pray for God's strength, for His army, for His guidance to overcome, and for Him to change your heart and your habits.

Third, go against every natural, easy behavior that feeds that flaw.  For instance, if your flaw is messiness, then go against throwing clothes on the floor or leaving dirty dishes on the counter.  Follow through where clothes go or follow through washing the dishes.  Fight that flaw.

Fourth, fill yourself with knowledge.  Read Scripture, self-help books, and do Bible studies that all relate to that one flaw.  The more you know and understand that flaw, the better equipped you'll be to fight it.

Fifth, find support.  Ask friends or family to hold you accountable.  People want to feel useful and helpful, and if you give them an opportunity to aid you in bettering yourself, they will take it.  We all want to feel like we're making a difference.  Don't let the fear of burdening someone to keep you from asking him/her to hold you accountable.  Satan does not want you to be better, and he will lie to get what he wants. 

We all have flaws we would like to fix.  It is possible.  You are not alone, and you do not have to fight alone.  The God of angels' armies is always on your side.

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 

2 Corinthians 10:4

Content with "No"

I believe true contentment is attainable.  True contentment is being able to accept if and when God says, "No."  True contentment is not changing your feelings about God no matter what the outcome.  True contentment is saying, "God, you are Master of the Universe.  I trust and accept whatever answer you give me to my prayer request and to my heart desire."  True contentment is praising God no matter the circumstance.  True contentment allows God to have full control and to know you are just along for the ride.  "But godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)

Yes, true contentment is attainable.  Are you ready to let go?  Are you ready to let God?  Are you ready to accept in full faith whatever the outcome?  If you said, "Yes!", then get your praise on!  God is going to do mighty wonders in your life.  How sweet is the taste of satisfaction!

 

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances."

Philippians 4:11