Last Year's New Years Resolution: How Did we Do--and a Prayer for 2009
Posted: Saturday, December 27, 2008
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
Today is December 27, 2008. All is quiet and peaceful-the calm after the storm of Christmas--giving me opportunity to reflect on these past 12 months.
I was drawn to the personal note on the January 2008 Issue of, "Be Ready", the monthly newsletter of In Season Ministries. The following is what I wrote:
"Dear friends and family in Christ,
"As I thought about the reality of breaking my resolution, I realize everything we do involves choice--so I made a new resolution: a choice. One I feel I should have no problem wanting to keep. I choose to be more like Christ at the end of this year than I am today. This starts by reading more of God's word and less of Ted Dekker. It also means not looking back at the past year and relishing my accomplishments and blessings--and thankfully, it means not looking back on last year's heartache. I am not talking about looking back with a sense of joy, or sigh of relief, but I am talking about turning our heads so far backward that we cannot see the blessings and opportunities that are set before us."
"Two Scriptures come to my mind as I consider this new commitment: No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.' (Luke 9:62) and, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.' (Philippians 3:13)"
"Whatever your New Years Resolution, I pray it will include a commitment to draw closer to the Lord this year, and that it will be one you keep. May the Lord be with each one of us-may we pursue Him with everything that is within us! Love in Jesus, Teresa."
The question then, is how did I do? Am I more like Jesus now than I was at the beginning of the year?
After an honest assessment of my over all behavior and attitude, I can answer with a yes. I have been given many opportunities to exercise unconditional love and forgiveness and plenty of times when I had to give up my "right" to be right, for the sake of another's well-being and peace of mind. Please don't misunderstand, this was never an easy task. There were many tears and challenges along the way. Nevertheless, the outcome always involved peace and the ability to move forward without bitterness in my heart. I suspect this year will bring new opportunities to be more like Christ. There are already a few in the works. This time, it involves being more concerned with what God thinks than what others think and doing what is right over what is popular. You see, being more like Jesus doesn't require me to be perfect, just willing.
As for the working-out and having that rock solid-wonder woman figure, well, not so much. That is just fine with me, the beauty within will just have to keep getting better to hide the imperfections of this tattered body.
How about you--how did you do?
Here we are at the end of 2008, filled with its share of joy and pain. What will we choose for 2009. Will we pursue the better job or the bigger house--what about the better body? These are not bad in themselves, but at what cost?
On the other hand, why not pursue love, grace, kindness and putting others before ourselves. These attributes belong to all of humanity-religion aside. These are things all of us can choose in the New Year. Then maybe, just maybe, all those other things we seek will fall into place. If not, it won't kill us.
If your heart desires, please pray with me:
Heavenly Father,
May this be a year of strong fellowship for all-restore relationships, bring new friendships our way. Help us to move forward in excitement for the new things you have planned. Give us the grace to let go of the past and put it behind us. May we have true forgiveness in our hearts so that we do not continue to carry the past on our shoulders. Help us to look to this New Year with a clean slate. Turn our hearts toward the things that matter to you and the One who can give us the courage to do so. Finally Father, help us to set aside our accomplishments in this past year, so we have room for the new you have in store.
In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Teresa Ortiz
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Wow first one to comment for once! I usually don't read your articles for days/weeks after you post. Not on very much, but alot more nowadays. Very good Teresa! Your articles are always encouraging and I look forward to your insights and wisdom from our Lord's Word of Truth. I've been praying for you these last 2 weeks, and that Art would have had a safe, smooth trip home and back, and your fam. a Great visit, and for you while he's away, and for your ministry. Look forward to seeing you one of these days.love H.Hi Heather! Thanks so much! I appreciate your support and I am comforted knowing you are praying for us. I have been praying and I am feeling like it is time to start preparing for another class. I will probably start early spring. March is looking good. I will be dropping in at Olivet on Wed nights when Art leaves again. We need to catch up!I hope Christmas was wonderful for you, Cliff and all the kids! You are in my prayers as well!!Love,Teresa
Did you put the rest of your life story on hold? I thought you were writing bit by bit...a series about your youth and walk. I understand you may have it on hold as you walk in HIS spirit and are led to write about other things or you were refering to 2 articles that I've seen and I'm mistaken..... Hope i didnt confuse you! love H.It is not on hold, I am working on it bit by bit, but I haven't posted anything else on it. I am still praying about the book and I am feeling like leaving it for that. We will see what this year brings, but I will continue to use my experiences as I write articles and studies.You were not mistaken and you didn't confuse me :-)Thanks again for everything! Also, I will be getting back to the news letters for January. What a whirlwind of events that took place these last 4 months!!
Teresa, I never made a resolution that I stuck to. I always pray to Jesus and tell him how sorry I am for not doing so well and to help me get stronger and to be more like him. Then I have the spark to light the fire, but when I get out of bed the next morning, I forgot already. Makes me sick to my stomach actually. I can't make any resolutions whether it be exercise more, or live for Jesus more, all I can do is try, is trying good enough for God? Probably not huh?Your article is Excellent Teresa !!! I wish I could have what you have in your heart, well I guess I do but you add lots of fuel to your fire, I guess I let mine burn out or just sit there in coals waiting for a nice huge log to burn. I can't find any logs anymore actually, just a little kiln here and there. Guess worldly problems or stress get in the way and put the fire out.Thank you for your article Teresa you are always so enlightening , or your words are to my heart. God defiently uses you and I can see it.Hi Kathy,Jesus knows all of our weaknessess, I don't think he is a bit surprised. Psalms tells us God is familiar with our ways and he loves us and is here for us. It is our faith that pleases God the most. Yes, our efforts in following his way is also pleasing, but our efforts do not make him love us more. Every one of us is "good enough" when we come to God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is Jesus that makes us good in His Father's eyes, not our efforts. The Bible tells us that our efforts and goodness apart from Christ are like used menstral rags.Kathy, don't beat yourself up when you don't get things right, we all make mistakes and fail at Holiness, but that is were God's grace comes to meet us. If you trust in your works as your measure of how God feels about you, you will be miserable. We all will be miserable, But Kathy, if you trust in the work that Jesus did for you on the cross as your measure of how God feels about you, then you will have joy, because it is not about how well we do, it is about how much we trust Christ and because we love, then we try to please, but the key is in the loving not in the trying. I hope this helps.I think most Christians at some point come to places of feeling far from God, we all can let the cares of the world bring us down. You are not alone. Just don't stay down when you notice it. Staying in God's word and connecting with other believers is what is going to keep us on track. We have to feed our spirit everyday. We can't live of last week's grace. We need a fresh word every day.May God fill you with a grace so strong, a comfort so deep and a joy that bubbles over, so that you may walk in freedom and newness today!Love,Teresa
Excellent Teresa! I was just focusing on being more like Jesus and stop worrying about other things. I cannot keep any resolution unless it is with Jesus. Mark and I don't even make resolutions of the norm anymore.Love, hugs and blessings always my friend,Hi Michelle! Thanks girlie, how is your toe and arm? I looked for your phone #, I must have wiped it out.Give it to me again and this time I will put it in my cell phone.I will give you a call tomorrow on my way to work.Love you lots,TeresaMay the Lord bless you and Mark all this new year long!
I liked this article quite a bit, it really made me think! Excellent format and content. Great job!Hi Peter, thanks for reading and taking a moment to comment. I am glad you liked it and I do hope it turned your thoughts toward heaven :-)
hi t,this was a beautiful article, and perfect timing.i don't want to look back at 2008, the lessons learned are burned in my soul, i can move on and be wiser, more caring, more forgiving, and more faithful.thanks for the reminder,my best to you,sueHi Sue, I'm with you on this. :-) Big hugs, Teresa
Hi Teresa! I had made a resolution to not make a resolution and did pretty well. I came real close to making an actual decision once but pulled back just in time!Not to make light of your article. Great advice and much appreciated!Hi Ken! I love it :-) Glad you added that here, you pulled out the lighter part of what I was saying--just live on the better side of life.Many blessings to you and yours in 2009!
Teresa, The important line is 'being more like Jesus Christ doesn't require me to be perfect, just willing.' Thank you and I wish you a wonderful Christ-like New Year.Hi Nancy, thanks for reading and adding this comment. It is so true, if we in ourselves were required to be perfect, we would never be accepted in the eyes of God. It is in Christ that we are made righteous and being pefected. It's the sanctification process!The Lord bless you in 2009 and may we be more like Jesus in 2009. This day in age, its hard not to live a life of compromise.Enjoy life :-)
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