Around this time, I feel like a bit of an outcast. I seem to be one of the few I know who makes no New Year's resolutions. Actually, I've never made a New Year's resolution--probably never will.
If that makes me sound like a terribly unorganized, shiftless sloth, I'm really not. I do plan on occasion--the rare occasion. You see, after a few years of living I came to believe in the thing about "the best laid plans of mice and men ...etc." No, my way of handling the beginning of a new year is to slip into a season of prayer, to daily bring before God my family members, close friends, and those concerns and events that the rest of us have no control over.
After I've spent several days of this, I return to my usual routine of each morning rolling out the day ahead to the Lord and asking His provision for every hour of it and for those same loved ones I've previously bathed in prayer--indeed, for all who may be a part of the day to come. It seems a freeing thing to me to watch God work through each new day as He wills while I simply try to follow along and not get lost. In trusting His will for my loved ones, my work, and my entire life I can't pretend to take onto myself any specific goals or "resolutions" that, for all I know, may not be a part of God's will for me.
In truth, it took years to relinquish control, and sometimes I still battle the urge to make a list of what I intend to do, what I plan to accomplish or decide where I want to go and how I'm going to get there--not only at the beginning of a new year, but throughout the course of a day. It takes only the royal failure however, of one of these "resolutions" to snap me back to reality and turn over the reins, once again, to the One in charge.
Besides, I rather like the no-guilt feeling of not keeping my New Year's resolutions ... because I didn't make any. No pressure.
BJ
