If you're like me, New Years resolutions never seem to work. You make the list and try your best to execute new plans all to find yourself feeling guilty 2 weeks later for letting yourself down. After that I typically give up. Which isn't necessarily a good thing, but thats just how it tends to go until when recently I was encouraged to try something new.
Instead of struggling to keep unrealistic expectations for myself, I was encouraged to pick one word to meditate on for the year. Choosing the word is entirely up to your choosing as it may hold some personal weight in your life. It can be made as simple or complex you want. It can come as an encouragement, a reminder, or a goal. Anything worthy to have an entire year dedicated to much thought.
This time last year, as a Freshman in college, I was in the midst of figuring out my life outside of the only place I've known. Outside of the comfort of familiarity and the security of close parental guidance. Moving away for the first time brought much uncertainty along with much growth. I began to recognize things that I would typically cling to that weren't as secure as I originally thought. I saw areas of life I sought for identity and fulfillment all to find that may value was not dependent upon the opinions of others, successes, friends, reputations. You name it. I quickly learned that I am no more or no less valuable based on things I'd done or what others thought of me. Because of that, for the year of 2015 I chose to focus on the word value. Through a flash card, related verses, or writing the word on my hand, I began to find ways to help recall the word in my mind and what it meant: That my value is found in Christ alone. No matter what I do or what I've done, I am as loved and as accepted by my Savior as I'll ever be. Fully and entirely. undoubtedly. My value as His sheep is infinite because of His grace.
After a few weeks of meditating on this word as I drove, as I brushed my teeth, as I turned the pages in my planner, this truth began to seep its way deep into my heart. As my thoughts became centered on this truth, my heart began to change. This truth started to take effect on my actions. The New Years resolutions I would have originally made began to happen because my heart changed. I began to do the things I wanted to do not because of a checklist that ran my guilt stricken conscience but because of a a truth that lead me into actions out of praise for my Savior. Resolutions for things like working out or reading the Bible were no longer needed because I began to see myself through the eyes of my Maker.
At the start of 2016, I will chose a new word to focus my thoughts on. I encourage you to do the same. May the Peace of Christ be with you in this New Year.
