It is the beginning of the year, and time for New year’s Resolutions…
This year… it is all going to be different!
I have been thinking about 2026 for a few weeks… actually, probably months. I want it to be different. I need it to be different.
My relationships
My ministry
My studies
My health…
But here’s the thing:
I may have my goals, but I also have my weaknesses.
(I want the six-pack, but I love the Icecream… 🫣)
I want God to interfere in my life and help me overcome my weaknesses.
AND I want God to intervene in my life and help me achieve my Goals.
BUT I also want my life to reflect God’s Kingdom.
”Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”
(Matthew 6:10a NIV)
But in this, I think I fall into the trap that James warns us about:
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money… Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
(James 4:13 ,15NIV)
Does this mean we should not be planning? And just take every day as it comes?
No, I don’t think so… afterall, Paul frequently planned trips, support solutions, fundraisers, etc.
No I think the core of the problem comes in two parts.
The first is back in Matthew 6, where Jesus is teaching the disciples how to pray. It is not simply words to speak or a mantra to repeat, but the “prayer” is a lifestyle change.
“Give us today our daily bread”
(Matthew 6:11 NIV)
And back to brother James:
”If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is a sin for them.”
(James 4:17 NIV)
My problem is not in the planning for the weeks, months or even years ahead… Planning is good. We should plan!
My problem is that I want God to provide for the weeks, months or even years ahead.
Because it is comfortable. Then I do not need to pray for “daily bread” because I have money in my bank account, I can buy my own bread, when I want. I don’t have to trust in God because I have a backup.
I don’t want “daily bread”, I want “Yearly bread”
When we plan so well, and get so good at our jobs that we do not have to depend on God for provision, conveniently forgetting that every opportunity and every client came from Him in any case, we run a grave risk that the only way God can get our attention is through calamity.
I think I want my New Year’s resolution to be able to plan like Paul, Silas and Timothy when he wanted to enter Bithynia, and the Holy Spirit blocked them from entering.
I don’t think we realise the extent of that little change. They came from Antioch. Depending on the route, it is 700-900km of overland travel. They Picked up Timothy 300km ago… and God says: No…
There was major time and energy investment in that project, but Paul was able to simply pivot AND STILL HEAR GOD’s VOICE, not angry… just a chance of plans to go where God needed them.
“…we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
(Acts 16:10 NIV)
Yup… that is my New Year’s resolution…
