© jb katke
How are you doing on your New Years resolution?
Long ago I abandoned making one because I was constantly disappointing myself. Why set myself up for failure?
A friend challenged me to take one word and look around scripture and see what it had to say about it.
“One word to work on is a lot easier than overhauling all your habits at once,” claimed Marnie. But focusing on a word took some time. Looking at where my life was at helped.
We were empty nesters contemplating moving to a smaller home. My problem was I come from a family of savers. Not hoarders by any means, but stuff that piles up through the years can become burdensome. I was next in line of acquisition.
This challenge of just one word had potential of lifestyle change. Mentally I thought of “Submit,” but that has a marital connotation. Then I considered “Surrender,” but that sounded like giving up. ”I settled on “Relinquish” because that was a positive willful action.
Memories can be wonderful but we were in a constant state of shuffling things out of our way. The kids didn’t have the space and/or desire to take them either. That worried me and I confess it was hard.
My family saved so many things for future use that I was getting rid of. Would I be sorry later? As if that were my only concern. Tears were shed.
What if I were to lose my sight, how could I quilt? One lady does to my knowledge. Or how could I write as God has impressed me to do? This business of handing willful relinquishment over to someone that has power to take things away is frightening!
But here is what I found. Poking around the Bible was surprising:
John 16:33 said this world will have trouble, but not to worry. God has already conquered it.
I Peter 5:7 told me to dump my cares on God because he cares.
Genesis 2:15 tells me we are to maintain things and keep order in our tasks.
Matthew 6:25 indicates I shouldn’t fuss over things, God provides what we need when we need it.
II Corinthians 12:9 speaks of Gods grace being enough and shows best through our weaknesses.
Amazing century old words that I can put to use in my life today. Who would have thunk it? Another thing for me to keep in mind, when I move on to eternity, I ain’t takin’ this stuff with me. I’m telling you, burdens lifted gives a mighty light and free feeling.
One Day Wonders with JBK 