New Years Resolutions

My New Year’s Visions

My normal thoughts in the morning were diverted because I ended my own yearly devotional book one day before the year ended.  I decided to think about daily renewal instead of yearly renewal.  I believe that I don't need new year's resolutions as much as a new daily vision.  So I meditated upon what I had learned from some important people.

This is a new day.
A new month.
A new year

So here goes.
I will accept my failure as a writer for writing in first person too often.

I see myself this way:
I will set my own attitude for each day.  It will not be set by anything or anyone except God and His love inside my heart.  Period.

I see myself building up people in new ways.  I plan to encourage the timid people and to be merciful with people who live in cynicism and doubt.

I have a clear view of me being able to handle awkward moments when I don't agree with people I love and respect.  Some of these are respected family members and some are "church friends" and some are "politically correct" points of view that are very new and unlike my own views.  I will stand firm in love and never be ashamed of the principles and the people who have successfully guided me though life.  I will not be disrespectful and condemning of those with a different point of view.  I do not know their hearts so I leave that to God. Still, I plan to stand firm in what truly matters to me.  I will remain committed to overcoming evil with good.

I can imagine myself without barriers to other people groups.  Those not against me are for me. Whopee!!!

I observe a new ability in myself to put my JOY priorities in place daily.
J-Jesus
O-Others
Y-Yourself.

I envision myself this new day, month year as experiencing true humility.  Not thinking less of myself, but thinking of myself less and of God more. 

I will not be ashamed of something Jesus Christ taught.  He taught that marriage is good and I will remember and enjoy my marriage.

I will not be defending religious views that He did not teach.

I can see a picture this year of me enjoying the praise of God.  I never tire of telling the good news to God's children that beyond this life there is a life without pain, mourning and death.  Good news.  Jesus loves you.  He came to earth to make sure you don’t live in guilt and shame but live in confidence and hope.  He has a hope and plan for you to live a great life here on earth and a life in heaven after earth. That is good news.

I plan to be more real about my times of frustration.  I say this knowing that this is earth, not heaven, so human weakness in the times of temptation is very real for all of us.  Confession will not be an obsession but it will be done and healing will come.

I can peek at the future days ahead and see me enjoying children and especially my grandchildren in particular.

Larry Wishard