New Year's Resolution and Revolution

New Year’s Resolution and Revolution

by Tracy Tennant

It’s a new year, the time when people set new goals for themselves and make declarations such as,” I’ll start my diet,” ”I’ll begin an exercise program,” “I’ll quit smoking,” “I’ll go to church more often,” “I’ll change my attitude,” “I’ll finish my degree,” ad infinitum. Often these ambitions end up abandoned two days after January 1st. What we need in our lives are not just new resolutions, but a revolution in our living and way of thinking as well. Let’s examine what exactly a resolution is. As we will see, it is more than just a declaration made on New Year’s Day.

The dictionary defines “resolution” as the process of resolving something; a firm decision to do something; firmness of mind or purpose; an answer to a problem; quality of detail in image (being in focus); in physical chemistry, it is the separation of a chemical compound into constituent parts; subsiding of symptoms; andthe musical progression from a dissonant to a consonant chord or note. Each of these definitions can be applied spiritually. While it is important to set goals such as proper diet and exercise, eliminating bad habits, and striving to improve in different areas of our lives, perhaps things would fall into place more easily if our focus was placed where God intended; on Him and on His word to us.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

In other words, with firmness of mind, purpose in your heart to seek God first in your life, and while the problems may not disappear, your worries will. The issues in your life will begin to resolve.

The next meaning is the quality of image; maybe it seems as though your life is a blur. You have so many activities, pressures and responsibilities that it seems as though the days fly by without having accomplished anything at all. Concentrate on the things of God. As you focus on Him, everything else will also become focused and you will be able to see your life with more clarity.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)

Jesus is the light. Keeping your eye on Him will fill you with light. When you lose sight of Him, darkness begins to fill you, leaving you discouraged, frustrated, and ultimately vulnerable to the schemes of the Adversary. If you have a variety of concerns or many “irons in the fire,” resolution means breaking down the activities, goals, or concerns into their constituent parts. Rather than be overwhelmed by everything as a whole, break things down into manageable steps. Get down to the bottom line. Determine what is truly important and what is not. When you have resolution in your life---that is, making God the center--- the symptoms of being out-of-focus begin to disappear. You begin to see things as our Father sees them; learning to love what He loves and hate what He hates. When we give the Holy Spirit permission to work in us according to His will, He will conform us to the image of Christ. It is only by resolving to let His will be done rather than our own that the disharmony in our lives changes to harmony.

Resolution brings about a revolution. The dictionary defines “revolution” as “the overthrow of a ruler or political system,” “a dramatic change in ideas or practice,” “one complete circular movement made by something…around a fixed point.” We must ask, who rules this world? What political system comes against us? Ephesians 6:10-13 explains;

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The revolution that occurs when the resolution of God abides in us is that the power of Satan will be overthrown in our lives! This does not mean we will not suffer temptations or trials, but that God will give us victory over the enemy. Our battle is not with our boss, our neighbor, our elected officials, our spouse, or our co-workers; our fight is against the powers of darkness that seek to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10) our joy, faith, testimony to others, and our very souls. We must look to God to put on the armor He provides. You will notice that both resolve and revolutionary living takes place in the mind. The mind is truly the battlefield on which Satan launches his most effective attacks.

For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:2-5).

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).

Let’s examine the next definition of revolution, which is dramatic change. How do we facilitate a “dramatic change in ideas or practice” in ourselves? The answer is, by “moving around a fixed point.” God is that fixed point. Do we have a “prayer closet;” a quiet place and time without distractions when we can pour our hearts out to God and listen for His voice which gives us comfort and direction? Do we get into God’s word, supping and drinking from the Bible on a daily basis? One of the quickest ways to have a revolution in our ideas is to meditate on scripture. We get to know God by spending time in His word. He will change our way of thinking and of seeing life. Consistent prayer and Bible study will revolutionize the way we see ourselves, our lives, and the future. We might not ever “get the Big Picture” with our limited understanding, but God will increase our faith. The verse that revolutionized Martin Luther’s life---and consequently brought about the Reformation, is found in Habakkuk 2:4, “The just shall live by his faith.”

What we don’t need is one more program, one more plan, or one more gimmick. What we do need is more prayer, more praise, and more worship for the God Who gave us everything. Only then will we have clarity, as well as dramatic change, in our lives, and “peace, like a river will flow.”

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