A Not So Simple New Year Resolution

Well, Happy New Year to everyone. It’s time for me to come up with a resolution for the new year, as is the normal, traditional thing to do, or not. I have made resolutions year after year, followed through with some of them, kept some of them for several weeks and had some that failed before the sound of the words landed in a nearby ear. I resolve this year to… Resolve used in this manner, as a verb, means to “decide firmly on a course of action” so I had to assume I didn’t use it in the correct manner for all those years my resolution failed. So, I thought maybe this year I need to strengthen my resolve to… Resolve used in this manner, as a noun, means to have “firm determination to do something” Wait! What? Noun or verb this is basically saying the same thing, a course of action and a determination to do something, noun or verb it means to act and do something, make a difference, add value, settle or find a solution and so on and so forth.

I pondered this for a day or so then I began to review my long list of things I could use to create my new year resolution; either way no matter which one I decided on; the one thing for sure is it will require action not inaction for me to “endeavor to persevere” and a little self-discipline for me to follow through with my resolution. When I think about my past experiences with resolve, temptation comes to mind. Somewhere along the way some shiny object in the world tempted me to stray from the path to complete my task. As leaders, we must understand the first person to lead is ourselves and if we practice self-discipline we recognize that God will lead us through seasons of growth, not for our gratification but to gratify Him.

As leaders, when we cast vision or a resolution, in this case and make it our goal, people follow us because they see a life they believe they can trust and one they want to emulate. Our job, as leaders, is to welcome God’s discipline and respond with self-discipline. We need to fight the battles and overcome temptations to take shortcuts in our life. We need to learn discipline as an art of depending on God and let it break the desire for self-sufficiency and self-promotion. Through our resolve we gain perspective and solidify our sense of mission, as a leader of others. Our life becomes a lamp unto the feet of others as we set the example of self-discipline with our follow-through.

What? You mean to tell me a simple resolution I set for myself, a goal I set to improve myself in some form or fashion, or by deciding on a firm course of action for me, alone, is important to others? Absolutely; because it is what leaders do, they influence others with their actions and reactions to events in their life. This simple “lying awake at night thinking about it” event could change the life of someone who is lost in the world. It could give someone the strength to change their life for the better. It could make a difference and add value to an individual or an entire group of people on the edge of despair; who could take our message of hope, faith, love and joy to other circles of people we don’t even know, and so on and so forth.

A simple resolution to change something in our lives, follow through with little discipline on our part, and spread the results through our life’s walk can make a huge difference with us not even knowing it. Amazing, simply amazing. When we learn as leaders the first person to lead is ourselves, we earn the right to lead others when they see us lead well in our own lives. So, we need to first resolve not to act apart from God’s plan for our lives to meet our worldly needs, He will do that for us. Second, resolve to use our giftedness, our spiritual giftedness, to teach and help others to stretch and grow as we walk along side of them. Finally, resolve to work in our strength zone, our faith zone, our worship zone, and shy away from the temptations of the world that exaggerate our weaknesses.

I encourage each of us as leaders to understand a resolution is basically a change of attitude. We re-train ourselves to develop new habits, new attitudes toward life’s circumstances. We need to understand effective training, changing our resolve, always begins with attitude and perspective changing us from the inside out. It will make a difference and add value to us and to others. Luke 4:3-10

Have a wonderful day,

JD (James Dodwell, January 2018)