I am finished making New Year’s resolutions. It is useless to make them. Either I break them and become discouraged, or I accomplish them and cover myself in pride. Whether I succeed or fail, it is all about me, and what I can do in my own strength and power. I am not interested in my accomplishments any more. I echo the words of the preacher in Ecclesiastes, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 NKJV). Whatever I do in my own strength and power is vanity. I need the Lord’s strength and power, not mine. This year, instead of New Year’s resolutions, I pray a New Year’s prayer. This is my daily prayer to the Lord:
Oh Papa, in awe of Your majesty, Your faithfulness, Your holiness, and Your awesome love, I received Your salvation. You are the one who works in me both to will and do what pleases You. I pray that I will never lose sight of the fact that it is Your power working in me. I submit my life to You. I can do nothing worthy of Your holiness (Philippians 2:12-13).
Thank You for giving me the gift of Your Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Amidst the riches of Your awesome glory, strengthen me with Your Holy Spirit, and ground me in the love of Christ, that I may comprehend the width, length, depth and the height of Your awesome love (Ephesians 3:16-19).
You said that Your ways are higher than mine. As I read, study, and meditate on Your word, open the eyes and ears of my heart, so that I know You better each day. I earnestly desire that my adoration and obedience to You will become a soothing aroma to Your heart. Teach me Your thoughts and Your ways, and tune my ears to Your voice. I want to quickly recognize and savor Your words of life, as You whisper them in my ears. I hunger for more of You (Isaiah 55:9).
I treasure our time together as I glean from Your glorious presence. Your fellowship infuses me with joy and laughter, with strength and confidence. I want the process of being transformed into Your image from glory to glory to be so much faster. As I read Your word and hear Your voice, renew my mind with Your Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). I hunger for more of You. Transform my heart and mind to reflect what is good and acceptable, Your perfect will. I don’t want to be conformed to this world. I want to reflect Your mind, Your thoughts, and Your ways. I want my life to bring honor to You. May Your will be done in my life. Renew my mind with Your word (Romans 12:2).
You created me in Christ Jesus to do Your good works. Teach me and empower me to walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). I desire to walk boldly in the knowledge of Your love, for it passes all human understanding. Help me to know without a shadow of a doubt that You have filled me with the fullness of Your incredible love. Empower me to walk in that love (Ephesians 3:19). Help me to depend upon Your Holy Spirit working in me, so that You can do exceedingly abundantly above all that I can think or ask (Ephesians 3:20). Open my eyes that I will never doubt Your glorious power working in me, the same power that raised Christ from the dead. Open my eyes that I may have a glimpse of the incredible inheritance You have given me in your son, and convict me when I am tempted to base my trust on what I see with my physical eyes (Ephesians 1:17-20).
As I study Your word and see the life of Your Son, I know that You and Christ Jesus are one, and the works He did were from your heart. I want to continue doing Your work in obedience to You. It is my fervent prayer that You will be glorified in my life, and that what I pray will be in accordance with Your will. I want to pray effectively for others, knowing that I am praying in accordance with Your heart, being led by Your Holy Spirit (John 14:10-15, 16:23). Teach me, Lord. Open my heart, and teach me. Teach me to pray in Your name. Help me to love what You love and hate what You hate (Psalms 97:10, Proverbs 6:16-19). Help me to honor Your word, for Your word will never return to You without accomplishing exactly what You spoke (Isaiah 55:11).
As I walk in the midst of my fleshly captivity, my hope is in Your promise and plans for me, to give me a future beyond what my flesh can experience (Jeremiah 29:11, 1 Corinthians 2:9). My delight is in You, Lord. (Psalm 37:4). I walk in the confidence that You began a good work in me and you will complete it, culminating in the day I stand before You and hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Philippians 1:6, Matthew 25:23a).
No more New Year’s resolutions for me. My strength and power to accomplish them is futile. I want to walk in God’s strength and power, and let Him fulfill the plans He has for me. No more New Year’s resolutions for me. They are all in vain. This year I pray in God’s strength and power, that He will do His work in me.
By: Sharon White