Is It Broke Yet?

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?

Where do you fit?

• You totally dismiss the idea.
• You make one but, based on past behavior, know you won’t keep it. 
• You make one with excitement and you're disappointed when you fail.
• You make a one and keep it.- Congratulations!

I waver between the second and third one, but I cling to the hope that each year will be better.

There are the old stand-bys:

1. I’m going to lose weight.
I remember the year I resolved to lose 20 pounds and I had the chainsaw in the garage to prove it! Well, I didn't lose 20 pounds and I chickened out on the whole chainsaw thing.

2. I’m going to exercise.
I bought an expensive gym membership. Surely if I paid for it, I’d go.
Turns out, money’s not that great a motivator.

3. I’m going to eat better.
That worked - until I saw that carton of Rocky Road ice cream in the store.

4. I’m going to finish ----. Fill in the blank.
Unfortunately, I had about twenty things to put in that blank. I threw my hands up in defeat.

Anyone else out there with these problems?

Ah Ha!!!
Then I found the secret.
Our resolutions fail because they start in the wrong place:
With our desires, rooted in our strength.

The heart of every resolution must be rooted in God.

That tweaked my conscience.
Do I make resolutions without spending time with God?
Yep.

So, I tried to stop saying, “I’m going to…” and started asking God, “What do I need to change?”

Then it happened: I started hearing things about discipline; my devotionals focused on discipline; my time in Scripture directed me to stories about people who weren't disciplined.

I’m pretty dense so it took a while to dawn on me: Discipline!

Without the discipline to obey God, without His strength, I can do nothing.

Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do 

nothing.” John 15:5

My Year’s resolution is to pray for more discipline.

Of course, at 12:02 AM on New Year’s Day, I stumbled.

Did I break my resolution?
NO! I probably dented it, but I didn't break it. God always catches me before I fall. He stands me up, dusts me off, and promises,

"His compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning; 

great is Your faithfulness." 

Lamentations 3:22b-23

How do we find success with our resolutions?

Begin with God!!

My resolution for 2014: Discipline
Do you have a resolution?