The Strength of Resolve

It has been 50 days since most of us made our New Year's Resolution. And by now, most of them have fallen by the wayside. 

Why do we make resolutions in the first place and what exactly does it mean to resolve? Is it a wonderfully useful cleaning product for carpet? I know I have a bottle of that in the cleaning liquids stored under our kitchen sink. I can not quite help but wonder how the manufacturer decided upon that name for this product. Most likely they reached this decision because one of the definitions for resolve is to dissolve, melt or break up. With “Resolve,” your carpet mess can be cleaned up in a jiffy. Is this how we view our resolutions - a way to make things right that are wrong in our lives? 

Another definition for resolve is "to deal with successfully and to reach a firm decision about." It is from these definitions that we draw the concept of our New Year resolutions. Whether or not you believe in making any resolutions at the beginning of each year, you must believe in the importance of resolution.

Here is the important part: A resolution will do you no good without the necessary amount of resolve. Not the carpet cleaner variety to be sure. Our resolve must be firm and our conviction inescapable when making a decision to move forward in a life changing direction. Too many resolutions flame out because the one making it has done so without the necessary amount of fortitude.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to give them encouragement. Part of what he said gives us a proper background for making any resolutions at all:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Any and all resolutions we have made for 2013 would be greatly enhanced if we made them with the priority of drawing closer to the call of Christ. When our first task is to fulfill the will of God, the rest becomes much easier. May God bless us this year with the resolve to carry out the task before us and may we find this year the strength to carry out the mission of our Lord.

Mitch Gallaugher is a minister and serves in many capacities at Royalwood. He is married to his lovely wife, Tammy and has three kids.