As the New Year 2023 begins many are making New Year’s Resolutions that they intend to keep.  At least, that’s their plan anyways.  The goals are made with good intent and positive meanings for their lives.  Whether they are emotional, financial, physical, or spiritual these resolutions come from a sincere desire to do and be better.

I remember working in the physical fitness field how busy things would get after the first of the year.  Health clubs and fitness centers bustle with new members and crowded rooms.  However, the attrition rate of those new memberships is so high that if every member of any given facility were to show up at once heath and fire codes would be violated.  Almost 40% of those who sign up will not continue with their efforts.  Facilities count on it so that they can keep selling memberships.

Life is like that as well.  We have good intentions but can’t seem to follow through and we allow those goals to slip away.  No matter how sincere we are or how much we need to finish what we start we have difficulty doing so.  I used to tell new members/clients to give me 30-days and they will see results.  90-days and they will be excitedly satisfied.  And they always were.  Yet so many just couldn’t stay the course and find what they were seeking. 

Our spiritual walk is no less of a struggle.  We make sincere efforts to change, get better and grow but the world, the flesh and the enemy get in the way.  That’s why I believe it’s a daily effort.  Our determination is a day-to-day effort.

Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV

²² Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
²³ They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

His mercies are new every morning and we should stand on them.  Every morning we get up to new mercy and a new resolve to walk in His faithfulness.  It inspires you to spend more time with Him.  More time in His Word and more time walking in the Spirit.  We will see the fruit of the Spirit grow and the fruit of the flesh wither away. Relationship with the Lord will be the breath of your soul and the beat of your heart.  He will become a priority in your life.  The Lord will be your first thought in the morning and the last thought at night.  As we string those days together, we find ourselves living the life we’ve always wanted.  

Make 2023 that year you look back to as the turning point in your walk with the Lord.

Richard J Grund