res·o·lu·tion noun \ˌre-zə-ˈlü-shən\
1. the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. : the act of resolving
2.the ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail
As a wordsmith, as I often call myself, I love to pick words and phrases apart. I was asked Christmas Day if I had any New Year’s resolutions. It’s widely known that I am a firm believer in the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. I have always shied away from making wild and unattainable goals for myself. I consider myself a realist. Because of this, I believe many times I have underestimated what God can really do in my life if my will and His will for me are one. Working beside him as a young child my father taught me about the building process. As we were laying the foundation for a home I ask him why we laid so much rebar and steel mesh on the floor and in the walls. My father said, “Son, concrete is a strong and sturdy element of any foundation for a home. But it’s easily broken by itself. The steel that we place in the form of bars within the concrete is very flexible and will bend into many shapes but will never break. But when you wrap the strength of the concrete around the flexibility of the steel you create a structure that can withstand a lot of pressure.” In the same way, when I wrap my will around God’s will, it forms a structure that can withstand much more of the pressures of this life. So what am I saying?
Year after year many of us make New Year’s resolutions that involve trying harder, buckling down and finally doing the things that we think will fix the problems in our lives. And year after year we fail. Why?
I think the answer lies in the correct definition of the word “resolution”.
We try re-solution. We retry the same solution over and over and are somehow surprised when we don’t see success. The same solution tried again and again will always reap the same failure. Maybe we should rethink our definition of resolution this year. Maybe we should try something new; look at it a different way. Which brings me to the second definition of resolution.
2. : the ability to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail
This year, why not ask God to give you a clearer image of where you stand on the issues of your life. Ask him to refine and renew our minds and give us more detail to our problems.
As a man thinks, so he is.
We will never change our behavior until we change our minds. So this year I’m asking God to refine my mind’s resolutions. To give me His perspective; His detailed answers to the complex problems I face. And this year I’m asking that my Savior, not merely resolve something I thought I solved last year, but to make all things new. He’s kind of in that business.
Happy New Year!
