"Whether we've decided that we need to break a bad habit, we need to develop a new one, or we feel God gently pushing us in a certain direction, there is a challenge ahead."

Kathy Spampinato

New Year's resolutions are approaching. Around the world people are planning to lose some things: to live without the extra pounds, anger, a critical spirit, resentment, broken relationships, or disappointment. We resolve in our hearts to buckle down and reach our goals, to improve our health, and create a life of joy. According to statistics, 75% of us are successful for the first week, but that number drops to 71% after two weeks. After a month there are 64% holding on, and there are still 46% who pursue their resolution for 6 months. 9-12% of people are able to keep those promises the whole year through. "Bravo", to those who carry out their resolution and reach their hard fought goal! Frankly, I am surprised by how many people are motivated enough to stick with their new direction for months on end. That is a lot of self-determination.

The reasons given for giving up on New year's resolutions are many. People say -they had unrealistic goals, -they didn't keep track of their progress, -they made too many resolutions, and a whopping 23% -simply forgot about them altogether. Let's be honest. The road to failure is full of good intentions. I know for me, my determination will carry me for a little while, but it will fade and wither, the longer I try and hold on in my own strength. Even while seeing good progress and steady results, I get tired of striving, and tired of the discipline needed for growth or progress. What is a person supposed to do? Where should we place our hope when trying to overcome a difficulty?

In 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 ESV the Apostle Paul talks about his struggle. "Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.""

Whether we've decided that we need to break a bad habit, we need to develop a new one, or we feel God gently pushing us in a certain direction, there is a challenge ahead. Perhaps you're looking at a serious life-controlling issue or an addiction. How do you approach the challenge to persevere with hope?

The first thing I notice in the above verse, is that God is offering grace: the free and unmerited favor of God. It is a gift we do not earn or deserve. It is not something that we work for or strive to maintain. It is a helping hand when we do not have what it takes. It is a power originating in God, that we do not carry in our weakness. We do not need to stir it up or convince ourselves that we can muster it. We admit our weakness in humility, and ask God to meet us there: at that spot. We have no more resource in ourselves, but recognize that His power can be revealed and reflected through us. We make God our source and determine to rely on Him. This change in our position, changes everything. Our strength is not in our obedience, or our giftedness, or our ability, but in our trust that God will come through for us. Our hope is in him!

Lamentations 3:22-23 states, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Because of God's love, we can ask for His help every day. We can admit that we are not sufficient for the task. We can experience failure and start again any day -or every day. His mercies are new every morning. He is faithful and we can rely on that. When we cannot meet the challenges in front of us, we know He can, and He has promised to be there for us. The pressure is off of us. We can acknowledge our weakness and His strength.

Psalm 37:4 says, "Trust in the Lord, and do good: dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."

There are keys to success here. I believe that befriending faithfulness means we decide to act in a faithful way: we decide to do good. Then the character we need will develop while we rely on God, and not ourselves. Our desire is to please God, and we commit our way to the Lord. Then He will give us the desires of our heart. We trust Him and lean into His ways, and into His faithfulness. Our faithfulness to Him grows. His grace is sufficient for us and He acts on our behalf. We walk in fresh grace for each step.

The Lord recently challenged me with the following scripture when I was running out of hope in my own ability to persevere and overcome. It isn't about me, but about His power working in me.

Hebrews 10:35-36, 39 "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

Earlier in this chapter in Hebrews 10: 22-23 it states, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. "

As you contemplate these ideas, perhaps you will want to join me in a different kind of "New Year's Resolution". I resolve to follow hard after God. This is not striving to transform myself into someone who is acceptable. This is not pulling myself up by my boot straps or earning God's love. I acknowledge my weakness. It is made perfect through the strength of God's love and grace poured out for me.

Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us".

And as we draw near and lean in to meet God where we are, let's inspire one another to become all that He has created us to be.