I haven't always been one of the people who has a different resolution every year. I probably only started thinking about New Year's resolutions when I was in high school because after Christmas break, I'd come back to school and my friends would be talking about them. Back then my resolution was always something fairly surface-level that had to do with my weight; either I'd resolve to eat healthier, or work out more, or if I was feeling super ambitious one year, both. Needless to say, my resolution was the same year after year after year simply because I failed every time.
At the end of 2016, I started thinking about whether or not I wanted to even attempt a New Year's resolution for 2017. My decision was that if I decided to come up with a resolution, there were going to be a few ground rules.
1. It can't be a resolution that I've attempted in previous years.
2. It can't have anything to do with health or food.
3. It can't be lame.
What I mean by "it can't be lame" is that I didn't want it to be surface-level. That's also why rule number two was a thing. Living a healthier lifestyle is something that I'm still attempting to do, but it's just that. It's a lifestyle; I don't want it to be something that I'm forcing myself to do just because on January 1st I resolved to do it. Plus, I'm learning how to love myself whether I'm being super healthy or not. So I decided to keep healthy lifestyle-related New Year's resolutions out of the picture. (Also because that way if I fail, I don't have to say that I've failed at my New Year's resolution. #genius)
Aaanyway, back to "it can't be lame" (aka surface-level). I wanted my resolution to be something that I felt was 100% necessary in my life. (As much as a healthy lifestyle is a good thing, one could argue that it isn't 100% necessary. But that's a whole different can of worms.) Entering into my third year of Bible college in September, I'd promised myself that although my grades are incredibly important to me and I always strive to work my hardest, my relationship with God was going to be my very first priority no matter what.
Because I'd made that promise to myself, I decided that focusing my New Year's resolution around that was a great idea.
Being your average twenty-first century young adult, as well as your average millennial, every morning I wake up to my alarm which is on my cell phone. (What does this have to do with your New Year's resolution...? Just wait for it.) Since I've already picked up my phone to turn off my alarm, the most logical thing for me to do is to check Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and my emails. Near the end of 2016 I was reading an article from Desiring God and found this gem of a quote:
"It has always seemed ironic and foolish that the first few moments after a full night of total, unaware dependence, we immediately wake up and go into independent, self-trust mode. We often trust quickly in our own "horses" and "chariots" instead of in the sovereign love of our Lord (Psalm 20:7)."I have that part of the article saved as a screenshot on my phone, and I came across that picture a few times over the Christmas break. I recognize that I clearly saved it because it impacted me. So there it was. My New Year's resolution for 2017.
As of January 1st, 2017, when I wake up every morning, my routine looks a little bit different.
I shut off my alarm, put my phone back down, get out of bed, read my Bible, and spend time talking with my Heavenly Father. It's only once I've dedicated my day to Him that I allow myself to get ready for the day and check social media.
I want to have my head, heart, and focus in the right place this year, and what better way to do that than by opening my eyes, thanking God for the gift of that day, and studying His Word right away?
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."
{Psalm 20:7}
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