I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:14
When I was growing up, my dad would challenge our family each year to make New Year’s resolutions. He told us that if we kept them all year, we could have anything we wanted. Wide-eyed, we’d ask, “Even a horse?” That seemed like the biggest thing we could imagine. And he said, “Even a horse—if you keep your resolutions all year.”
He knew what it took us a few years to learn— that, left to ourselves, we couldn’t keep our resolutions. Our willpower is weak, and only God’s Spirit allows us to do anything good. But my dad also knew it was good to evaluate where we needed to grow and aim for improvement as we continued growing in Christ.
With a new year on the horizon, ask God where He wants you to grow. Don’t rely on your own resolve. Real change comes through the Holy Spirit as you daily walk with Christ. You probably won’t end up with a horse, but you will grow in holiness—a far greater outcome.
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Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Seeking Him daily program
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Sit down, either by yourself or with your family, and make some resolutions to challenge you in your relationship with Christ.