New Year Resolutions

Its that time of the year when people have made their New Year Resolutions and by about a week later they have broken them.
You know the sort: stop smoking, loose weight, drink less, exercise more.
In the dictionary "resolution" means "resolve character, temper or conduct...." that's a big ask.
Hey it's the holiday season so we are on holiday for goodness sake. I didn't used to make resolutions at all but over the years (Being on a forum and seeing others make them) I decided there were things I wanted to do (not the impossible) so I sort of challenged myself.

It was more a "setting goals" to see if I could get the changes I wanted done.

About three years ago I would read about two books a year and so one of my challenges was to read more. Because it was "out there" so to speak, I did read more and ended up reading 43 books.
One of the goals now each year is to keep it up.
Another was to start looking after me, the person who gives out to others, and recognising who I was. I now have lots of things in place that I do just for me and so the goal is to keep it up, review it and maybe add more.
Part of that is watching my weight and so eating good things and walking etc. Its a package not a resolution that if I don't do it "I lose"!

I am also introducing more natural cost friendly cleaners etc. into the home and trying to make them myself.
This is to reduce the budget and to help with the environment - another goal.

These and becoming the person God sees me as are the challenges I focus on each new year..
It is learning to love and look after me and so in turn those around me.
I will no longer treat myself in a way that means I beat myself up over things I have failed in.
I would not do that to anyone else so I will not do that to me.

So if you are a resolution maker and then breaker don't be so hard on yourself and look closely at what you want to truly achieve, making them achievable, and so be able to gain the prize you set out to win.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (New International Version)

⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

1 Corinthians 9:23-25 (N I V)

²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Proverbs 21:2 (N I V)

² All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart.

Proverbs 20:24 (N I V)

²⁴ A man's steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand his own way?

Psalm 37:23-24 (N I V)

²³ If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
²⁴ though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Proverbs 16:7 (N I V)

⁷ When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.