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I make New Year’s resolutions.
Specificity is a principle of following Jesus. Jesus says, “Ask!” An ask of “Lord, I need a job,” is specific, while “God, bless my day,” is general.
A specific answered prayer ignites prayer!
All New Year’s resolutions are prayers. Specific action items for which you need the grace of God. When you ask specifically for New Year’s resolutions, you are you and God is God.
The key to answered prayer – humbly asking your Father.
When I consider resolutions or life decisions, I have consistently used three passages of scripture. These passages are the most important in the Bible for building your relationship with Jesus.
Build specific resolutions from them.
First:
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31).
Love is the greatest commandment. How do you need to love? Who do you need to forgive? What specifics should you be doing to love yourself?
Second:
Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Great Commission.
I pray specifically each year for those that I encounter regularly to both share Jesus and then disciple them.
In 2021, who should you share Jesus with? Do you know how to disciple?
Third:
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33).
About every New Year’s resolution ask, “Is this seeking first the Kingdom of God?”
The most discussed topic in Jesus’s teachings was the Kingdom of God. In His Kingdom, Jesus is both Lord and Savior. As Savior, He brings salvation and peace, and as Lord, Jesus leads us along a narrow path.
Seeking first His Kingdom keeps you in the center of God’s will. Scripture promises power, peace, and provision to stay faithful.
I pray that you will make New Year’s resolutions. Specifics according to love, discipleship, and seeking first His Kingdom can seem daunting. You will find good intentions won’t work and a disciplined schedule will falter.
So, pray now for 2022:
Lord, my specific requests fall into the realm of doing the impossible. Please make me the type of person in 2022 who can do the impossible – both in will and works.
Amen!