This is the time of year when people examine the past year and think of the changes they want to make. We commonly refer to these as New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve made them every year and have broken them every year! I’m quite sure that I’m not alone on this one! As each year approaches, I have this focus and tenacity to reach my set goals. To quote our President-elect, “Can I do this, yes I can!” I can do it but moreover, will I? Our will is a God-given right called free-moral agency. The choices we make are ours and we have the freedom to accomplish them.
But who is in the driver’s seat of our vehicle and what kind of car could best describe us? Are you a sports car that is considered high-performance but not very good in every-day traffic? Would you be in the mini-van that’s very dependable but also holds a lot of other passengers or baggage? Are you the rusted-out, old car that’s in bad need of repair but won’t make an appointment to get fixed? Maybe you’re the car that looks great on the outside but the inside is full of junk. Perhaps you are driving a car that you can’t afford and are in way over your head. Then again, you may be the one that: drives the sensible car, takes good care of it, gets regular repairs, keeps fuel in the tank, oil in the engine, obeys the laws by not exceeding the speed limit , drives defensively by looking out for the other guy, and overall keeps things running smoothly. You are the disciplined one! Someone must have taught you well and you listened!
What’s also important to note is if we don’t have keys, we can’t start our cars and keep them going. If we don’t have keys, we can’t start our year and keep things going in the right direction. What have I lacked in the years that I’ve broken resolutions? Very simply put – I’ve lacked discipline. This is the key that we need to start anew and allow God to have His way (not our way) in our lives. The root of discipline is disciple…think on that! To be a follower of Jesus, we need to be disciplined. To be disciplined takes a four-letter word – WORK! Work takes focus and effort on our parts but when we do it, there is always a pay-off! When we are disciplined in the “everydayness of our lives” there is a pay-off called “righteousness, peace and joy in the holy ghost.”
Dr. Sumrall taught us that we are three-part beings; a man is a spirit that possesses a soul and lives in a body. All three parts must be in agreement and be disciplined in order to successfully function as one and that takes WORK! We have to be dedicated to our work and see it as the benefit that it is. 2 Timothy 3:16 says: “Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action.” (Amplified Translation)
The Word of God is our guide book, our map, our directory, and our information center on our journey through each day. Everything we need, can be found in the pages of that amazing book but it takes discipline to read it and then apply it. I am going to do what my husband preached long ago and Settle It! It is settled that I will have the discipline to achieve many goals and 2 Timothy tells me how I can reach the most important one – to be a true disciple and follower of my dear Lord Jesus. This is our time…this is our year…this is our day and that Settles It!
