Reset Resolutions
Happy New Year! Schmappy New Year!
It’s the 8th of January and I really wanted a different story to tell you, but I’m already faltering in my New Year’s resolutions.
Oh, some things are going splendiferously, but others … not so much.
My first goal for the new year was to abstain from chocolate for 30 days. You know, break the cycle, right?
Let me tell you how that worked. Embarrassing! I fulfilled the letter of the law, I’ve had no chocolate. Instead, I had VANILLA pudding, STRAWBERRY shakes, and sugar laden coffee drinks.
My second goal was to exercise a little bit every weekday. Well, unless you count grocery shopping or going upstairs to put away laundry as exercise, you can chalk up another incomplete.
Take thoughts captive.
Once you fail, the temptation is powerful to chuck the exercise program, writing project, savings plan, home renovation or diet to the curb in utter defeat.
It’s hard to overcome the voice in your head that says … You’ll never win. Nothing will change. This will never work. Give up!
I hear those same recordings my head, but we don’t have to cave. Instead of letting those unholy voices lock up our hearts and enthusiasm, put them in lock down. Take every thought captive, forgive yourself and start over.
Hit reset and restart!
I didn’t hit the mark, but I can hit the reset button!
Taking thoughts captive. Confessing and forgiving myself. Starting over. Focusing on anything that went well. Just like my heroes in the Bible who faltered.
- Peter got a second chance when God recommissioned him in John 21.
- Paul was called out and given a new start in Acts 9.
- Jonah got a reset when he restarted to Nineveh in Jonah 3
Hard as it is, let’s stop beating ourselves up for not making the mark. As long as we’re in the pit of discouragement and focused on failure, we are not in the frame of mind to reset, refocus or restart.
Focus on victories.
I didn’t fulfill my goals, but I did have some wins.
I didn’t eat chocolate and even with my snitching, I ate much less sugar than I would have without the goal.
The exercise I did manage to do has me feeling energized.
It’s enough to get me to Reset. Refocus. Restart.
I can’t wait to hear how you’re doing. Leave me a comment below to let me know if you’re on track or ready for a reset.
Verse for today: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)
Prayer: Oh Lord, how we fail you and fail ourselves. Remind us that you do not require perfection and out intentions count toward progress. Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from our own evil, urge us to live on earth as it will be in heaven. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
My goal for this year was to get off social media & stop letting it control my life and be more involved in what’s going on. For instance, when I get bored I will just go on Facebook etc. When my fiancé & I go out to eat I will be on Facebook. So January 1st I deleted Facebook, Snapchat, & Instagram off my phone & told myself I don’t want this controlling my life anymore. There’s one person I want to be in control of my life and that is the man upstairs. He knows my plan He knows my desire He knows what’s best for me. I want to be in the passenger seat & He’s the driver of my life and I’m just here for the ride. It’s January 8th and no more tempting on going to social media. Do my devotional every morning & started reading Christian books to kill that urge. Overall, I am doing a really good job!
WOW, I admire your awareness and commitment. Very inspiring. Thanks for posting!
This was a call to adjust for me.
I routinely jump on the scale everyday to check my progress. Now I will site quietly with the Lord to measure my progress with Him
I am off like a cannon everyday with my list of “ get it done”. Now I will sit quietly and wait for my assignment from God
At the end of the day I drop in bed from a day of running. Now I will drop to my knees with a thankful heart for another day given in service to my Lord and others.
Thank you for being such a beautiful inspiration.
Have a day filled with wonder and awwww.
Big hugs and lots of love.
Kay
Thank YOU for those poignant and inspirational words.
I bought a new Bible with a beautiful soft pink faux leather cover to serve two parts to my New Year goal. 1) Read the Bible through again this year, and 2) highlight fav passages and write notes in the margin for my daughter. At the end of the year, I will give the Bible to her as a gift. Well, I did great on my reading plan until about the 10th, and now I have almost a week to catch up! I’ve been guilting myself over missing days, which then makes me less likely to read the next day. Time for a reset!
What a lovely idea! Even if you don’t finish in a year, the gift will still be valuable and treasured as a birthday gift later in the year.
Oh, Robyn! You make me giggle when you mentioned the vanilla pudding, strawberry shakes, etc! Sugar is so powerful, but nothing compared to the gracious nature of our loving God wooing us to reset! Thanks for the great message. Reset, refocus, restart…I’m all about the RE words!
With Joy,
Christine Trimpe
Great words of encouragement. Thank you Christine. Appreciate you.
Robyn, your message makes me SMILE!! Woo! Hoo! Thank you!!
Well, I’m happy about that!