Do This One Thing

There’s something about the clock striking midnight on January 1st that makes us want to start over.

We get a clean slate and a fresh start. We vow to do better and be better. We promise that this time we’ll lose the weight, take the class, read the books, run the 5K, make the apology, drink more water, eat less sugar, and invest more money.

The momentum may last for a week. Perhaps we stick with it for a month. Maybe we even cruise along until spring or summer.

Inevitably, many people settle back into old patterns.

The weight stays on.

The book remains closed.

The exercise program is put on hold.

The apologies go unsaid.

Investing goes out the window when the bills pile up.

Good intentions rarely equal intentional living. We can say we want to accomplish goals or develop habits, but without a daily plan, we’ll go nowhere fast. We bite off more than we can chew, and rather than stepping back and starting small, we often give up all together.

The same thing can happen in our walk with God. Whether it’s vowing to read Scripture each day, get involved in a small group, attend church every Sunday, or love our community, it won’t all happen at once. It won't magically get easy simply because or fall into place because we declare it.

Instead of putting pressure on ourselves to do everything, what if we just focus on one thing? What would that look like for you?

• Instead of aiming to read the Bible in a year, how about committing to reading one chapter each day at a certain time?

• Instead of announcing you won’t miss one Sunday of church this year, what if you made plans to be in church this Sunday?

• Instead of making grand plans to volunteer at every nonprofit in the community, what if you first focused on being friendly with a neighbor who’s been distant?

We serve a God who makes all things new, regardless of what the calendar says. Wherever you want to be a year from now, ask God to help lead you each day. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

Our New Year’s resolutions may fail, but God is faithful. He’s the One who can help you do this one thing, and He has your 2020 in His hands.