[Since many of you have already failed your New Years resolution, or are quickly on their way to doing so, I thought I would post a short encouragement of sorts.]
For many of us, we have made a resolution, or two hundred, most which we have not kept. We have tried our hardest, set our minds to it, even had others to hold us accountable, yet the outcome seems to be the same. Failure.
This year, I’m putting a challenge out there for myself. It’s a resolution, I guess, but it’s a resolution to stop trying so hard, and trust deeper. See, at the core of most resolutions is us. Even when we set good resolutions, losing weight, giving more, attending church this year, they are empowered by us, they are driven by us and they are focused on us . This is the reason why they more often than not fail.
This year my resolution, and maybe yours, is not to try harder to fulfill a long list of things, but to trust deeper. Trust deeper in the power of the Spirit to work in your life, trust deeper that God still speaks through His word, trust that the same power that rose Jesus from the grave will work in our lives, trust deeper that there is hope, trust deeper that the God of the Bible is the God of your life.
Now I am not calling you to do nothing this new year, because even inaction is really action. No, what I’m saying is actually harder than trying. Because of our sinful tendencies, we always want to do things our way, in our timing and through our power. So, setting forth a call to do nothing more than trust in Jesus can be the hardest thing you will be called to do. Trusting deeper may just be the hardest thing you will ever do.
So think about it, and pray about it. Maybe this year, God will rock your world. Maybe He won’t, but that is not up to us. It is only by and through His grace and mercy either way. So trust deeper in Jesus and stop trying so hard.
Excellent message Josh! My spirit is resonating at the essence of truth in the challenge you’ve identified here. The clarity and succinctness of these thoughts are clearly Holy Spirit inspired! Thank you for being a willing instrument to shepherd!! Praying blessings over you and yours in the coming year and to all that you put your hands and heart to in the name of the Lord!!