This is not a blog about new year resolutions. This is about understanding what God says (in the bible) about who you are, as a Christ-follower, and choosing to truly believe these truths and more consistently live them out. If you’re not a Christ-follower, you can surrender to Him right now and enter God’s eternal family. Go to biblegateway.com and read: John 3:16; John 14:6 & Romans 10:9 & 10.
Here are four examples of how God knows we can live, even in the most challenging of circumstances, as we trust in Him and depend on His strength:
Endure like you’re courageous: Joshua 1:9 – “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
God Himself is telling you to be strong and courageous. He says this not because He thinks that on your own you are. He says this because He know He is with you in the tough and scarry days. When you know God, you can be strong and courageous any day in His power and wisdom.
Rest like you know God’s grace and power is more than enough: II Corinthians 12:9–10 – “… ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
When life’s trouble and turmoil seem to sap you of all your strength, and maybe even of your motivation to ‘press on’, it’s time to remind yourself that you can rest in the gracious and powerful hands of God. We only will see the “power of Christ” work through us as we choose to rest in Him.
Stand like your faith in God is unshakeable: I Corinthians 16:13 – “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”
There are some similar ideas here to the bible verse referenced above from II Corinthians 12, but please focus on the word ‘stand’ in this verse. We all know that life sometimes brings us ‘unexpected’ and ‘unwanted’ situations. But you can “stand firm” because of who your faith and life are built upon.
Serve like you know you are making an eternal difference: I Corinthians 15:58 – “Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
What an amazing thing to know, namely, that what you do for God and for His glory has outcomes that are meaningful to Him and to others, both now and eternally. It’s difficult to quantify this but take some time and ponder what this could mean (and has meant) in and through your life. Taking some time to reflect on this will most likely lead to even more consistent engagement in doing “work” for God, and that’s anything but useless.
It might be helpful for you to select even one of these four examples to focus on. Maybe one per month for the first four months of 2023. Let God deepen your roots in Christ as you commit to live your Christian life like God says you can.