It's the start of a New Year so we all begin thinking towards resolutions. Actually I am not a big fan of them. I think that we generally don't follow them anyway. When we really resolve to do something to change our lives, it is usually at a time in life when we are to the point that we see the need for change. Of course if a resolution works for you, well then great!
A resolution usually means that we resolve to improve or better ourselves and that's always good, especially in the spiritual areas of our lives. I'm always for anything that improves our lives and relationships with our Lord. When you get right down to it, bettering ourselves as Christians involves bettering our relationships with God. We have to draw closer to Him before we can improve our Christian lives. Sure we can make a New Year's resolution to do that but I think resolving, day by day, gets the job done in a better way!
Do you remember the old hymn, "Just a Closer Walk with Thee"? I can remember that playing off a record when I was young. Okay, some of you don't know what records are! Records are round vinyl discs we ancient folks used to play on machines called record players that went round and round with a needle that filled a groove in the vinyl that produced sound (an old form of a CD). We had a record by Tennessee Ernie Ford with that old hymn on it and I can remember learning the words when I was quite young.
I am weak but Thou art strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long, As I walk let me walk close to Thee!
Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be dear Lord, Let it be.
Thru this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it Jesus is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
When my feeble life is o'er, Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er, To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it Jesus is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
This old hymn reminds me of how David lived his life before God. David sought the Lord daily believing and trusting in Him for all the blessings of life. Consider these words of David: "Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.... Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?.... Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!" (Psalm 55:17; 56:3-4; 68:19) Who cares? The Lord does!!!
We've all got to live the Christian life one day at a time. That in turn causes us to have the improvement in our Christian lives that we all so greatly need. Just resolve to live better for God, moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, and that will all add up to our "best" for Him not only for this New Year but for our entire lives as well!!!
In His Loving Service,
Vernon