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As the dawn of a New Year approaches, many people’s minds turn to New Year’s resolutions. We start each January with an attempt to make ourselves better people. We vow to quit smoking, lose weight, study Scripture more, attend church more regularly, or spend more time with the kids. The things we couldn’t seem to find the resolve to do in the fading year become a goal for the coming one. And, so, I’ve made my New Year’s resolution.

Of course, like so many years before, I plan to lose weight in 2010. And, I’m going to get more involved at the church. Those two things may not happen. They didn’t in 2009; hopefully they will next year. But, my greatest resolution for 2010 is simply this: I will not limit God.

Too many of us falsely believe that God is an all-powerful being whose will is accomplished regardless of what we may or may not do. God is all-powerful, but He is also a God of self-control. He will not force His blessings upon us. Sure, the Bible says that it rains on the just and the unjust. Sometimes we do benefit from God’s blessings despite the fact that we don’t deserve them. That is very true, but how often do we limit God?

Still believe it can’t be done? Consider Psalm 78:41: “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” That’s right – they put God – the all-powerful, omniscient, omni-present God, in a box. They limited Him.

Consider again Deuteronomy 8:18-20: “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. ¹⁹And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. ²⁰As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.” God gives us power to get wealth, but He also says that we will perish if we are not obedient to Him. So I ask you, what good is wealth when you’re dead? God wants to bless us, but we choose to limit Him.

Isaiah 30:15 says, “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” God wanted to give His people rest and strength, but they chose to do things their own way. They limited what God had in store for them. Jeremiah 29:19, Matthew 23:37, and Numbers 14:22 give additional examples.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ¹²Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. ¹³And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. ¹⁴And I will be found of you, saith the LORD…”

In 2010, I’m not going to limit God. I’m going to seek Him and find Him. I’m going to be obedient to His Word, and find that peace that He has promised His children.

What’s YOUR New Year’s Resolution?

IN Christ,
Karen Nelson