Resolutions

Each year when it begins I make resolutions that I believe are needed changes in my lifestyle and I am resolved to stick to them no matter what.  After a few weeks, a few months, those resolutions have gone to the way side.  Later, as I reflect on my intentions for positive changes, I feel remorseful for not having the self discipline to follow through on the resolutions that I made.  It has also left me with feelings that I have failed myself and others.  Feelings of guilt and shame are added in for good measure as well.

With the new year, before I made any new year's resolutions, I started by defining what happens that causes my failure to follow through on those changes.  What prevents me from recognizing my goals?  Recognizing the obstacles and challenges for each situation showed me where the real changes needed to occur first so that I could then successfully reach my goals.
 
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" Ecclesiastes 3:1

I often think I never have enough time and that there are too many demands on my time.  When will there be time for me to do those things that are important to me?  A lack of time was the first obstacle that I identified.  I took the time to reflect on my daily schedule, my responsibilities, my plans, and I took it to our Lord in prayer.  During my prayer, I remembered the Bible verse in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."  And I asked myself, are you using your time, every moment, to its fullest?  Are you passing time or are you living the moment?

That was an eye opener for me.  It dawned on me that I had developed a irritating, bad habit of putting off when it didn't fit with how I felt at that moment in time.  For instance, I would plan to do laundry when I got home from work; but at the end of my day when my work day finished, I was too tired to deal with laundry.  It could wait one more day.  By the time I actually got around to doing the laundry, it had become a major chore with several loads needing to be washed, dried, folded, hung up, and put away.  And then I would get it folded or hung up, but it would not get in the closets or the dressers because I had exerted so much energy to get it all washed, dried, folded, and hung up.   Another job half-done which left me feeling drained and another failure that I was facing.

It was time to look at this chore from a different perspective, a new mind set so to speak.  If I would take the time to do the laundry when I had one load to take care of rather than permitting it to pile up, it would take less time to get it done.  It would be a ten to fifteen minute job rather than an all day event.  Now, laundry is done one load at a time, and most of the housework has been broken down in the same way such as vacuuming for ten minutes every morning before going to work and dusting done a room at a time before going to bed.  My reward is more "free" time to do those things that I didn't have time to do before that are important to me such as visiting with family and friends.  By using my moments, I gained time for living my life.

First problem solved, so now it was time to look at my second obstacle.  I am overweight and do not get enough exercise.  Not only did this affect how I felt about myself, it also was a health concern.  Weight has always been a problem for me.  I gain weight and I lose weight, but I have yet to maintain my ideal weight.  Why?  There was no easy answer to this one.  Again, I prayed about it.  There was more than one obstacle in my path to success.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

First, I have self-discipline to eat well balanced meals and avoid junk food but only when it is convenient.  If I'm hungry, I want instant gratification.  It is easier to open a package than it is to cook and easier yet to buy fast food rather than preparing a nutritious meal at home.  Time for a change.  If you eat junk, you become what you eat.  Does God want me to be junk?  No!  1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies."

Secondly, whenever I eat something that I know is junk or I over indulge, I give up trying to lose weight. I failed so I stop trying.  The result is that I continue to gain weight.  Each day is a new beginning!  I may have slipped, but I can begin again.  Stop seeing every setback as an excuse to not go forward.  It was a sure way to sabotage my efforts.  I needed to be kind to myself and quit beating myself up about it.  Accept that I slipped and then begin again.  God forgives us our sins.  He loves us.  He also wants us to succeed.

"You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great." Psalm 18:35 (NIV)

Whatever challenges and obstacles you face, do not feel discouraged.  Do not quit or give up.  Do not feel like a failure or that you have not done enough.  While we all face trials and tribulations that strengthen us, mature us, and shape us into who we are, God never puts on us what we cannot manage for He is always with us.  All things are possible through our Lord.  He will help each of us if we go to Him with our burdens.  With His wisdom and guidance, I will succeed.  On my own, I was floundering.  Once I took it to our Lord in prayer, He saved me, helped me, and guides me to where I need to be.

Start over today by acknowledging that you can't do it on your own but with God's help, nothing is impossible.

Luke 1:37, "For nothing is impossible with God."

Matthew 19:26, "Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."