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Being Resolute

  • Writer: Jilian Brown
    Jilian Brown
  • Dec 31, 2021
  • 7 min read

Updated: Jan 1, 2022



Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

~John 8:12

I have never been one much for New Year's Resolutions. As mentioned in my newsletter this week, I absolutely can not stand to fail. The idea of setting myself up for failure with unattainable goals has never been how I want to turn the page on a new year. Also, I have always been fairly self-motivated, so I never quite saw the point in setting aside only ONE day to set goals. As in, aren't we all setting goals all the time? Apparently, we are not. I told my sweet friend last week that I needed to sit down to make my plan for the year this week and she said, "Planning your whole year? Well, that sounds awful!" Ha. And I'm right back to remembering we are not all alike.


Calendaring is a verb in my house and it is actually a favorite pastime of mine. Free time? Calendaring. Lag in conversation? Calendaring. It is always just right there and available for writing down more plans and goals. And yes, it is physically right there because there are always paper calendars and dry erase calendars available even though there are at least three calendar apps on my phone. All my people received calendars from me at Christmas and then I sat there thinking, maybe everyone does not want a calendar for Christmas. So, all this to say, it is not the goals at New Year's that I mind because I live for those. It is the idea that on January 1st every year we engage in this cultural ritual of trying to be a better version of ourselves with all sorts of new routines, diets, plans for more of X and less of Y, and usually by February 1st, we have lost sight of whatever fueled the excitement when the ball dropped. It also seems to me that most of our resolutions have a foundation in the idea that there is something wrong/missing/lacking/undesirable/imperfect about us. I do not need any help in feeling all of those things, so I wonder if we might flip the script and focus on what we have/are/give/bring to the table because of the grace of God. I wonder if beginning 2022 with an attitude of abundance rather than scarcity might serve us well. So, instead of making resolutions this year, I want to take a look at BEING resolute. Instead of focusing on what we might or might not do, what if we instead focus on who we are becoming in Christ and what that means for the flourishing of our families and communities.


How do we exit two years of chaos and enter a year of unknown reality with resolve? The answer is simple and incredibly difficult. Jesus said it in the verse above. "Follow me." That's it. That is the answer. The way toward light and out of dark is His Way. The way out of anxiety and toward peace is His Way. The way to walk in strength is to recognize that His strength is revealed in our weaknesses and He never leaves us in them. The way toward joy is gratitude. The way toward health is honoring the body He made and gave us and using it appropriately in all ways. Yes, yes, you say, I KNOW all of this, but it sounds so much easier than it is. That is correct. There is not a shortcut to the narrow path. It requires diligence, discipline, and dare I say...a plan. I have always liked cooking because it involves, ingredients, a plan, and a somewhat guaranteed outcome if you just follow the directions. Same thing with Legos. You will never see me using Legos without instructions, but with instructions--so fun! God did not leave us without a plan. One reason we like resolutions is we like structure, we like goals, and we like outcomes. Here are some ingredients for following The Way:


1) Read the Bible. We make this far more difficult than it is, so I am listing resources below to help because there are countless apps, books, communities, and websites to help you. This is non-negotiable. We can not know Jesus if we neglect the very way He reveals himself to us. John said it:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." ~John 1:1-5

Jesus Christ is THE Word and if we want to know Him, we have to read or listen to it. Daily. Always. I know morning is best, but that will always be hard for me, so I say get it in where you can. In the car (listening if you are driving, obviously), on your walk, early in the morning, at lunch, after the kids go to bed. I do not think we need super strict rules around this, but I do think we have to plan for it and aim for consistency.


2) Pray. My guess is either #1 or #2 is easier for you and the other is more difficult. This one is harder for me, but just as important as reading the Bible. I can know all about Jesus and still not KNOW Him if I do not spend time daily talking--and more importantly listening--to Him. Our God does not force Himself on us, but is always available and always inviting us to come toward Him. He is there. We are in control of our proximity to Him and prayer is the key to closing that gap.


3) Stay in the Community of Faith. Our faith is deeply personal, but not individual. We absolutely must have community. That is why we are only beginning to see the fallout from the isolation of the pandemic. Human beings are not created to live apart from one another. We need each other. We watched "Encanto" this week and it proves that point. Every life matters and every gift matters and we need to walk alongside those who are older, younger, and the same age as us. We are imperfect. Churches are imperfect. Every single one. But, there is one out there that exists with the values you have that can support you in your journey. And here's the thing--they need you!!!! When one of us is missing, the body of Christ isn't functioning. Again, watch "Encanto." Perfect example of the house falling apart when one is not able to use their gift and the beauty that is built when we all do.


If you have the resolve to include these 3 ingredients in your life in 2022, I guarantee your life will be different by next December 31st. Guarantee it. There is almost nothing I would use that word about, but I am so serious about this. If you want transformation in your life, this is The Way. It is not magic. Some days will be boring. Some days will be confusing. Some days will be frustrating. But over time, scripture takes root and forms you, talking to God becomes a privilege and not a chore, and you will find the church beautiful--even with her imperfections. She is not going anywhere. She may change and evolve over time, but the church is God's chosen method to move His purposes forward in the world. So, our choice is to participate or not. I contend we are missing an opportunity when we forego it altogether.


If these 3 ingredients are all working well for you already, then I encourage you to contemplate the other spiritual disciplines Jesus modeled in his own life: Fasting (more on this to come towards Lent), Silence and Solitude, Simplicity, Service, Confession, Worship, Celebration.* I would start with one of these and make it yours for 2022. I am choosing fasting. It has never been something I have done regularly, but I listen to enough people who speak of its power in pushing their prayer life to another level and I need more of that in my life. I am struck by the story of Anna in Luke 2:

"There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." ~Luke 2:36-38

This is the woman who saw baby Jesus at 8 days old in the Temple and immediately knew He was the Messiah. She spent her days fasting and praying after only having the blessing of marriage for 7 years and then widowed for at least 6 decades. How easy it would have been for her to become bitter or to turn her back on God. Yet, she leaned in. She spent her time in the disciplines and her reward was the ability to see Him for who He is and know with certainty the kingdom was coming. I want the eyes to see Jesus and where He is moving and working. I want to know with certainty my place in the kingdom and to spot the miracles all around me. I believe the disciplines are the route to that kind of faith.

Resolute:"admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering"

Anna was resolute. So was Simeon in the passage before her. There is a great blessing in unwavering faith and it is having the eyes to truly see God, His purposes, and His image-bearers. I believe in setting short-term and long-term goals and resolutions still have their place for healthy habits in our lives. However, for 2022, my prayer for you and me is that we would find the resolve it requires to be Way Followers. It is my biggest hope for us, for our families, communities, country, and this world.


* These are outlined in "Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth" by Richard Foster


Recommended Resources:


Scripture:


  • For questions/commentaries/stimulating your thinking:

Biblehub.com This is my favorite website for all things languages/translations/commentaries.

Gotquestions.org I love this website when I have questions or need resources. They have an

extensive catalog of categories they have scholars working on and updating continuously.


  • Sermon Podcasts that will get you in the Word:

Church of the City: New York, Jon Tyson/Suzy Silk

Gospel in Life, Tim Keller

The Village Church, Matt Chandler


Prayer:


Community:


 
 
 

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