December 31, 2008

2009 Resolutions

In coming up with my list of 2009 resolutions, I kept returning to the word discipline. Every item that I could place on my list of resolutions was something that I could only achieve through greater self-discipline. For 2009, I am going to work on becoming more self-disciplined. This is a broad definition intentionally. I am going to work from the inside out, and see what results from my efforts. From time to time, I will be blogging about various areas of my life that I am working on getting under control.
Now reader, did you notice something in the above paragraph? Read it again, if you need to, and see if anything stands out. I'll wait. Okay, done? Any guesses? Give up? In the first paragraph, the word I (and the variation, my) was used 11 times. That's probably pretty typical of resolutions, since resolutions are usually a list of self-improvement items. But, as a Christian, is this the right response?
As a believer, should I be focusing on what I am going to do, what I am going to change? Rather, shouldn't I be focused on God, and allow Him to dictate what needs to change? After all, part of being a Christian is dying to self in order for spirit of Christ, which is within each believer, to increase.
Therefore, my 2009 resolution is this: I am going to spend more time with God through daily devotions. This is really the only resolution I feel that I can make. I'm not writing this post with the purpose of being holier than thou, or to make anyone feel bad about making a list of resolutions. To be honest, I had this grand epiphany as I was writing my own list of resolutions. I happened to notice how many times I had the word I on the list, and how far down I had placed "I will have daily devotions."
So for 2009, I will be doing my one resolution. Since I do feel led to have more discipline in my life, I will be studying on discipline. I have no doubt that this topic of study will result in many areas of my life coming under scrutiny and changing. I will be blogging from time to time about these changes. Feel free to keep me accountable to this resolution. May God bless us all in 2009.

2 comments:

  1. I LOVE this new design. Good job on it. How did you get the little "cartoon you" over in the sidebar? That's cool.

    Good post too! I haven't even thought about resolutions. I have in the past and have always forgotten them! sad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Josh: I created the cartoon me using a site called face your manga.

    ReplyDelete

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