As the year 2011 comes to an end I am not reflecting on the year behind me, nor am I looking ahead to the new year to come. Instead I am trying my hardest to focus on today, to do well what the Lord has asked me to do today.
My tendency would be to look back at the year that was and to tally all my failures and shortcomings and conclude that 2011 wasn't that great. Or, I could reject my negative tendencies and could note all the great achievements of 2011 and conclude it was a really good year for me and my family. Of course, when I had finished beating myself up/patting myself on the back for the past year I could begin dreaming about 2012. Today, I will focus on today. I love Paul when he writes "I want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death ... Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me... But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
The greatest desire of Jesus for me today, is that I would be with Him. I feel Him wooing me so strongly into deeper love and fellowship with Him. My desire, like Paul's, is to know the power of the resurrection and participate with Christ, becoming like Him. For all of you who know me well, you won't be surprised to know that I haven't attained to that yet, far from it. But, that will not deter me from straining forward, pressing on toward the goal. The goal of knowing Him, being known, and becoming like Him. These 3 things will not just happen over time. The only way is by being deliberate and intentional. I'm not going to get better at soccer by wishing I was better at soccer and by hoping I get better. The only way is to practise, to train, to engage. That is where I am today, and tomorrow, and every day after.
Instead of making a new years resolution this year, make a decision to be resolute. Resolute that you will grow in holiness. Resolute in dying to yourself. Resolute to cultivate (insert here everything you wished you had in Christ but have been to lazy/busy/lazy/apathetic/lazy to work toward). I've been reading Piper's book "Hunger for God" lately, in it he writes "The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison, but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world". The issue : Anything and Everything that is, or can be, a substitute for God. Piper goes on to say "God wills to know the actual, lived-out reality of our preference for Him over all things. And He wills that we have the testimony of our own authenticity through acts of actual preference of God over His gifts". If your looking to make a new years resolution you can be proud to be resolute about, I would urge you to join me in taking Piper's advice and get Hungry.. Really, really hungry... for God.
Thanks for Journeying with us,
The Schafers
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