One Word Resolution Year 3

One Word Resolution

Year 3

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

   In January 2012, I decided to limit my resolution to just one word, “Trust.”  I wanted to trust God more and that year went through many things that tested my faith.  Yet through everything, I felt God was with me and I learned a lot about faith.

   In January 2013 I chose a new word, “Embrace.”  I wanted to embrace my relationship with God more.  Last year saw changes beginning with a new church and a new pastor.  And God answered my request by revealing many things to me; some I already knew but never embraced, and some new ones.  His Spirit guided me through some rewarding Bible studies including First and Second Thessalonians, the book of Acts and finally the Prophet Jeremiah. 

   So now we are in January 2014 and I decided to choose another word and this year chose the word, “Purposed.”  This is from Daniel 1:8 where Daniel, new to captivity in Babylon, was ordered to conform to the King’s wishes and live the lifestyle of a Babylonian.  But Daniel “purposed,” or determined, in his heart that he would not conform to the world around him but wanted to keep himself true to his convictions and serve God according to the Scriptures.  He felt that conforming to the Babylonian lifestyle would defile his life and compromise his beliefs.  As we read his story we know he was granted favor with the King even while keeping himself faithful to God.  God blessed his life and granted him much grace.

   There are so many temptations in the world around us and we are faced with choices.  We can choose to live with the world’s junk in our lives or we can choose to keep ourselves separate and live lives according to the precepts written in the Bible. 

   I don’t live a secret life of sin and wild living, but I know there are things where I can, and should, live more holy.  There are areas in my life where the line between God’s Word and the world get a little blurred.  I have purposed in my heart to examine my life and find those areas. 

   The concept of a one-word resolution may not work for you, but certainly the new year is a good time to step back and look at your life and ask yourself if you’re living a life pleasing to God.  We look at the New Year as a time of renewal, so why not renew some area of your spiritual life?  Tackle a new Bible study or set aside some time for more prayer.  Volunteer someplace to help the needy or help out at your church.  Find some way to get out of your comfortable pew and stretch your life a little.  It’s a New Year and there’s no better time to begin than now. 

Stephen Cram                                                    January 5, 2014                    

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Visit my pastor’s blog at http://pastorjonrhinehart.blogspot.com/.

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is from the New King James Version of the Bible.