Are We Planning For Success Next Year?

Each year people make what are called New Years Resolutions. The reason, supposedly, for making these resolutions is that people are hoping to resolve something they did or didn’t do in the last year. Sometimes there was a mistake or sometimes they could have done better. Sometimes they didn’t do anything at all. The problem with resolutions is they are often done half hearted and we are only slightly committed to them. Mind you we may have good intentions to resolve these missteps, but rarely do we have any real conviction about them.

First let’s define what a RESOLUTION means:

1) The act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc.

2) The act of resolving something: an answer or solution to something.

Here is a broader definition:

Resolution is the noun form of the verb resolve, derived from the Latin resolve, “to loosen, undo, settle.” We can still see this meaning of resolution in the sense of “an explanation” or “a solution” — when a problem, conflict or mystery reaches its resolution, it has been “undone,” so to speak. If you approach a task with resolve, you do it with determination. And if you make a resolution, you make a  firm decision to do something or meet some goal.

So, according to the real meaning of the word “Resolution” we can see that in order to use it properly we not only need to see the problem, but must see the solution and then commit to the process required to reach the solution. You can see most of our “New Years Resolutions” never truly evolve into a firm commitment, but were only good ideas that had merit but not conviction.

Now the question is, how do we really make a resolution that lasts and also works? I would like to look at a few instances in scripture when resolutions were fully implemented and when they were misguided or wrongly executed.

Although the word is not found many times in scripture, the concept is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments. One specifically is found in the book of Luke in which Jesus is said to “Resolutely” go to Jerusalem. Some translations say “before being taken up to heaven,” but this was early in Jesus’ ministry and therefore some commentaries believe the Greek word translated “up to heaven”or ascension means “Going Up To” meaning going up to Jerusalem, not heaven. Just goes to show you that at times certain words are translated improperly which makes the passage different than intended. Never the less, the point is Jesus was “Determined” to go to Jerusalem. How do we know this? Because he actually went.

Luke 9:51-56

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.  [52] And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. [54] When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” [56] But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.

A second example of true resolution is found in 1 Chronicles where King David talks about his resolve to build the temple. Again, we know this was a true use of the word resolution because David actually followed through in gathering supplies to do so. You can always know if a person has a real resolution or just and good idea by their follow through.

1 Chronicles 28:2-3

Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. [3] “But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.

The Interesting thing about this resolution of David is that God told him not to do it even though he had started to make it happen. How often have we resolved to do something for God only to find out too late that God did not want the thing done at all. When we try to do something for God and he doesn’t agree with our plans, God withdraws his blessing and his provision. I have known a good number of pastors who tried to build a ministry or church only to find out that God was not in their plans and thus it failed.

Next is the case where God calls Solomon to build the temple and promises his blessing, and that Solomon will be king over Israel. God goes so far as to say Solomon will be his son and he will be a father to Solomon. Now that’s a huge calling from God, especially being found in the Old Testament. But there is a catch. Solomon must be “Resolute” in obeying God’s commands and ordinances for all these things to happen. Many of us have experienced a calling of God in something and have the thing or ministry crash and burn because we got sloppy in our walk.

1 Chronicles 28:6-7 

“He ( God ) said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. [7] ‘I will establish his kingdom forever if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances, as is done now.’ 

David, his earthly father, warned Solomon to be “wholehearted” in his resolution of God’s calling or the blessing would be withdrawn. The same can be said about our resolutions even when they are ordained by God. His blessing and provision are always tied to our cooperation and engagement in the thing, place or responsibility we are persuing. Attempting to do anything in life without God’s approval is a mistake. Not being wholehearted is also a big mistake, even with his calling.

In closing, consider the promise made to the children of Israel when they were being taken to Babylon. They didn’t want to be there. They hated the Babylonians for taking them away from their home and country, and yet God had a plan to bless them if they would submit to his directions.

Jeremiah 29:4-7

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: [5] “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. [6] Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. [7] Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

So in conclusion, it’s good to make resolutions, but we must always seek the mind and will of God concerning the directions we want to take. Second, we need to seek the way God wants us to fulfill those plans. Blessings always come when we are in God’s will doing what the Holy Spirit guides us to do.

Questions:

1) Are you afraid of making resolutions this coming year because of failures in the past? Don’t be afraid as long as you are in the will of God doing his purpose.

2) Have you sought the Holy Spirit about how to make the changes you think you need to make? The Holy Spirit was sent to all of us to help us become more than conquerers in our faith walk.

Pastor Dale