Better Than New Year’s Resolutions
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1
Everywhere I look this season, I see stress. Anxiety. Depression. Hard stuff.
There’s a lot of pressure over the holidays, isn’t there? Not just on Christmas day, but the entire month of December and bleeding into January. The pressure increases exponentially in the new year, when, after all our failed efforts to do better or love more or spend less, we determine to try again. To make a plan this time and turn our goals into New Year’s resolutions.
Am I the only one that finds this cycle exhausting and self-defeating?
What if we did away with resolutions all together and instead, determined to walk closer to Jesus each day. What if we focused on moving forward? Taking small but steady steps?
Because, honestly, that first step is hard enough without adding expectations to it.
But once we take that first step, every step after becomes easier.
So what’s the first step? For me, meditating on and praying Scripture, because I’m convinced, the more I spend time with Jesus, the more I think like Jesus, the more I’ll act like Him and live empowered by Him.
This year, this is my plan, and I’m not waiting until January first to begin. Starting today, I’m determined to lean in a bit closer to Christ, to carve out consistent time throughout the day to connect with Him, and to allow His Words and Spirit to penetrate deep, changing me from the inside out. (Romans 12:1-2) I invite you to join me.
Jennifer Slattery is a writer, editor, speaker, and the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. She writes for Crosswalk, iBelieve is a multi-published author of Hometown Healing among other titles who also writes articles, Bible studies, and devotions. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall outings with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. Visit her online at jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com or book her for your next women’s event.
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Originally published Sunday, 29 December 2019.
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