Resolved.

365.

Seems like a big number.  And when its 365 days you think, "Hey, I've got a lot of time."
But do you?

Think back to the first day of 2010.  Kinda feels like forever ago... and then it also kinda feels like we were JUST there.  

You can probably remember making some New Years Resolutions.  Did you hold to them?  All of them?  Really well?  No?  Yeah, me neither. 

I had some Resolutions.  Do I even remember them all?  No.  But what I can remember of them, I know that I didn't always follow them the way I thought I would.  I think I kept telling myself, "There's always tomorrow," which turns into "I'll just do better next week," which turns into "Day one of next month, I'll be on this," which turns into (where we are right now) "HEY, I think I'll actually stick to my New Years Resolutions this year! (Cuz last year was sooooorta an epic fail.)"

Ugh!  I hate it.

So this year is going to be different.  I do not want to be looking back at my year on December 31, 2011 thinking "There's so much more I could have done!"  No.  How about we commit to sticking to our Resolutions this year?  How about we resolve to do as the Lord commands and pursue Him, love Him with everything we have.

When Jonathan Edwards was 19 years old, he wrote a series of resolutions.  There were 70 total, which he committed to reading to himself once a week so he would STAY resolved.  Among my favorites:

"4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it."

"25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it."

"28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same."

 "41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better."

 "52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age."

This year can be about discipline, about reading the Bible, about growing in evangelism and encouragement, about serving more, about praying without ceasing, about speaking and acting with purity and wisdom, about trusting God in every situation, about growing in overall sanctification.  This year can be about pleasing God!

Now you have a choice: what will you do?  Will you waste this new year of 2011 that the Lord has given you?  You have 365 days to change for the better this year, and get closer to God than ever before... unless He comes back first!!