Christ-Centered Resolutions

We make resolutions because we see some deficiency in our lives or we want to change something in us that we don’t like.  Self-examination is good.  God wants us to look into our hearts and be honest about the areas we feel we are falling short of God’s best.  You may have some issues like anger, laziness, lack of discipline or a myriad of others that you know are not glorifying God.

Making resolutions is an act of faith.  God is in the process of “sanctifying” us, which just means He is maturing us in our faith and causing us to be more holy every day.  The fun part is that God wants us to participate in our sanctification through obedience and reliance upon the Holy Spirit.  This is when we get to examine dark areas of our lives and shed the light of Christ on them.  For instance, if you struggle with anger… you need to admit your struggle to God and those you are angry against.  Next you need to ask the Holy Spirit show you why you are angry or lose your temper.  Then you ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength, courage and power to overcome your anger issues.  I want to stress this is not just asking God for “help”, but rather asking God to change your heart to become more Christ-like. 

So go ahead, take a good, deep look into your heart and see which areas you need to resolutely apply the gospel.

Jonathan Edwards put this at the top of his resolutions in 1722, the principle still applies:

“Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.”

All for Jesus,

Fletch