Armed with wishes we boldly resolve

Then the bright morning star

Will shine truth from afar

And the way we have made will completely dissolve

Ah, New Year's resolutions. We make our lists one day, then scratch them off the next. Our memory seems far too brief to even grasp the text. (Sorry. I'm still in poetry mode.)

But why do we fail? Lack of sincerity? I don't think so. Resolutions I hear come from honest desires to attain whatever goal others have created for themselves. Perhaps part of the problem lies in not understanding what a resolution actually is.

Resolution:  a commitment; a firm, definite, earnest decision.

Strong words there. Commitment. Firm. Definite. Earnest. Very unlike the wishes expressed in the poem. A resolution is more than simple desire. It carries a deep level of seriousness that translates into, "I will do this...I will become this...I will begin...now!"

Now? Yes. Anything that can be put off, delayed, postponed...will be. Whether that's losing weight, getting fit, reading more, writing more, connecting more, etc. We often fail because we freely give ourselves the opportunity to do so. That is especially true when it comes to our walk with God.

I try not to have New Year's resolutions. Instead, I focus on what I can resolve to do each and every day. When I do that, I more often succeed in what I ultimately desire. Resolutions are more about the journey, than the destination. For example...

Every day I will kneel before you and praise your name...forever and ever. Psalm 145:2

This was David's resolution. Is this where he hoped to be by year's end or someday? No. He made this commitment for each day. And since "Every day" includes "Today", his resolution began not tomorrow or next week, but now!

My goal is to listen to Jesus' voice and follow Him. That is what I strive for. So along the Way, every day I resolve to submit to God and be His servant. Every day I commit to proclaim Him as Sovereign, Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, Father, Friend, and Counselor.

Will I succeed every day? No, but that won't stop me from trying, for I am certain of this:

I will draw closer to God and He will draw closer to me.

I will love Him more, encourage others more.

And I will become more the person He has called me to be.

Paul wrote, If we live by the Spirit, we also walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). That's where I want to be.