With the new year just around the corner, resolutions are on my mind. It’s typical to make resolutions about physical fitness, eating habits, and productivity, but what about resolutions for the quality of our souls? This summer my boyfriend Brian shared with me a list of life resolutions he’d made and it inspired me to make a list of my own. I’ve tried my best to keep them this year, sometimes failing, and sometimes succeeding. But my hope is that 2010 will be a year of continued soul-growth as I strive to grow more and more into the woman God has created me to be.
So, with no further ado, I give you my soul resolutions for 2010 (and 2011, and 2012, and 2013…)
I resolve to honor God with all of my hear, all of my soul and all of my mind.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:36-37)
I resolve that my physical appearance will not determine my worth or my value.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. (1 Peter 3:3-5)
I resolve to invest in relationships with others above pursuing my own selfish desires.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)
I resolve to maintain an eternal perspective with my time and my money, and to act accordingly.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:19-34)
I resolve to glorify God through the suffering and hardships in my life – past, present and future.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)
I resolve to be a steward of God’s gifts, and recognize that I own nothing of my own.
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. (Psalm 24:1-2)
I resolve to live and move and have my being rooted in Him.
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.’For in him we live and move and have our being.’ (Acts 17:24-28)
I resolve to pursue love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
I resolve to point others to Christ.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
