New Year’s Versolutions

December 29, 2008 | My Jottings

I haven’t set New Year’s resolutions in years. I got tired of mustering up the resolve needed to make changes, only to feel that determination wane by the time February rolled around each year. So I try not to even think like that anymore, but instead concentrate on one day at a time, thankful for the new start that every morning brings.

I read recently that the most common New Year’s resolutions people set are to:

1. Lose weight/get fit.

2. Quit a habit (smoking, drinking, etc.)

3. Get into better financial shape (pay down debt, save more, eat at home more, etc.)

So in keeping with my long-held tradition, I am making zero New Year’s resolutions. But I have been thinking, and I have decided to make a few New Year’s Versolutions.

I believe that the Bible is God’s Word, full of His life and power. The more I read it, the more amazed I am. I take very seriously what Hebrews 4:12 states: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  So this year I am going to concentrate on making (at least) three scripture passages a reality in my life. These will be my New Year’s Versolutions.

1)  2 Corinthians 10:4-5 — The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

These are the verses I’m working on memorizing (again) to deal with my thought life. Any emotional battle we face usually begins in the mind. I’m famous for filling my head with thoughts like this, “Ohhh nooo, I don’t think I can’t take this anymore” or “I will never be able to accomplish this” or “I just don’t fit in anywhere” or “I’ve ruined my children and there is no hope”.  Aren’t these pleasant thoughts to rehearse in my mind? Yet tell me you don’t relate on some level. Tell me there aren’t a few tapes playing over and over in your mind that you can’t seem to stop.

Well, 2009 is the year to silence the old, lying tapes. And the Bible tells us that divine power is available to His children, to demolish those arguments and pretensions that want us to believe them instead of God. We are told that we can take those lies captive, and replace them with truth. I have done this before, and have been astounded at how powerful this weapon is. But I have not wielded this weapon faithfully, and I want to make this a part of my daily life, no longer something sporadic. The thoughts I want playing inside my head are more like, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” and “He has rescued me from a slimy pit – He has set my feet upon a rock and has given me a new song to sing!” and “He will make all grace abound to me so that in all things and at all times, I have everything I need and will abound in every good work!” and “With God all things are possible.”

2)  Job 23:12 — I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread. 

This is my life verse.  You see it at the top of this blog each time you visit. This is the verse I want to be a reality in my life more than anything. I know this verse by heart, but I don’t often “apply” it, or use it as the weapon that any part of God’s Word could be. I am asking God to help this beloved verse become a true New Year’s Versolution for me in 2009. I don’t want to love anything more than my heavenly Father, especially not a piece of pizza or a peanut butter cup. How tragic is that?

3) Ephesians 4:2 — Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

All of these traits seem so impossible, so far out of reach for me, that I know it will take an act of God to bring these to fruition in my life. If you asked anyone who knows me well how they would describe me, there might be a couple of complimentary words offered (hopefully), but humble, gentle and patient would probably not be the words most would use. I honestly desire for this to change. But who can get up in the morning and resolve on their own strength, “Today, I am going to be humble, gentle and patient!” Most people know that firm resolve isn’t what brings lasting change. I believe that only Jesus can really change a life from the inside out. I’m trusting that as I believe His Words and hide them in my heart, use them as the weapons they are against the lies that come surreptitiously tapping on the door of my mind, and daily rely on Him to provide the strength I need to walk closely with Him and to know His peace, change will slowly occur.

He has already brought so much welcome change in my life from the time I first trusted Him, I know I can trust Him to bring more.

So, are you making New Year’s Resolutions this year? Are you going to try to lose weight, quit a habit, do better with money? How about joining me and asking God to help you make a New Year’s Versolution or two…relying on His truth, power and grace to effect a change in us, instead of depending on our own weak and raggedy selves?

If you wonder what verse in the Bible could possibly relate to whatever you’re going through, please e-mail. I will confidentially help you find a verse from God’s Word that would apply to any area of your life. There’s bound to be someone reading this who doesn’t really believe that memorizing a Bible verse, then saying it and thinking it and meditating on it could really make a difference for them. Why not try it, if not to experience something wonderful, then to at least prove me wrong?  What do you have to lose?

I’ll bet at the end of 2009, we’ll be able to look back and see that New Year’s Versolutions were so much more effective than New Year’s Resolutions.

What Versolution are you going to make?  Someone reading might be encouraged by what you share…

Happy 2009 to you all!