Captivating in the New Year {2}

Stop! Before you read this blog post, you need to read Captivating in the New Year (part 1).

Okay.  Good! Now you can read this post!

Confession. I've never been big on New Year's Resolutions.  It's just always seemed to me that people get their hopes up to do this or that differently only to be disappointed a week later when they realize how short they have already fallen from their goals. And then they give up completely and say things like I'll try again next year!

Did it ever occur to anyone that the main reason why we can't seem to change our bad habits and addictions is because we don't ask God to make the change in us? Or that maybe our goals don't line up with His will for us?

Romans 12:2 says this:

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

...but be transformed by the renewal of your mind...

If we are walking with Him daily and pouring ourselves into His Word, His desires will become our desires and He will accomplish great things in us and through us.

Apart from Him, we are nothing. We are but flesh and bone.  We are weak minded.  We are redeemed but we still wrestle with rulers of darkness and we still give our flesh what it desires.  So what makes us think that we can better ourselves on our own?

Everything good in me is because of the love, mercy and beautiful grace of Jesus Christ.  And every addiction that I will break and every goal that I will meet will be because of His grace on me....because of His strength in me.  It is the same for you.  Even if you reject that truth. 

So what addictions are you trying to break? What goals are you trying to meet?

If you are trying to lose weight, then by all means, exercise and eat right.  If you are trying to give up cigarettes, then by all means, don't keep buying them and expect for God just to take that "gotta have this" feeling away.  Though it is completely possible that He can do that, it is not very likely.  We are still called to be responsible. 

I hope I'm making sense.  I guess the most important thing for you to take away from all this is that...

all your striving will be in vain unless you call out to the One who has the power to make the change in you and through you.  Find your strength in Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11