{"id":546,"date":"2015-12-27T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-27T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hanoverbaptistchurch.org\/blogpastor\/?p=546"},"modified":"2015-12-26T19:15:33","modified_gmt":"2015-12-27T00:15:33","slug":"what-does-the-bible-say-about-resolutions-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hanoverbaptistchurch.org\/blogpastor\/2015\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-resolutions-2\/","title":{"rendered":"What does the Bible say about resolutions?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\u201cO LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness\u2026Keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.\u201d 1 Chronicles\u00a029:16-18<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

New Year\u2019s resolutions are ephemeral things. While there are some among us who are capable of being spartan in our resolve, most of us think happy thoughts and give our \u201cnew me for the new year\u201d the \u201cold college try.\u201d We are pretty good for the first, oh, say three weeks, but the \u201creal me\u201d often prevails. It is not that it is a bad thing to be a better parent, a better spouse, lose those pounds from last winter, take better care of ourselves, quit a bad habit, forsake a favored sin, grow in our faith through prayer and Bible study, take better control of our temper, put family above work, give up desserts for the year, or what-have-you.<\/p>\n

It is just that most of us are pretty irresolute when it comes to our resolutions! A resolution is essentially a decision as to future action, a formal statement of determination, a resolve based on analysis and a decision drawn therefrom. For every believer, resolutions occupy sacred ground in the heart. We all know we are born sinners and, though the \u201cold man\u201d was crucified on the cross, he still whispers his vile accusations and gilded temptations directly into the ear of the soul. Truth be told, believers ought to be formulating resolutions of godliness all year long.<\/p>\n

King David\u2019s great prayer found in 1\u00a0Chronicles\u00a09 is part of his fatherly charge to his son Solomon and all Israel to build the temple of Jehovah. It had been a desire of his own heart to build it but God told him it would be the work of his son. So the people donated and prepared for the great work. They provided \u201cin abundance\u201d but never lost sight of the fact that all they had was God\u2019s to begin with, all had come from His hand. How can you go wrong when you build your resolution upon thanksgiving and upon God\u2019s rightful claim upon you? After all, if you are born again then you know He has bought you out of the slave-market of sin and made you one of His sons (1\u00a0Timothy\u00a02:6).<\/p>\n

Interestingly, David seems to reflect back on his own calling he received from God (1\u00a0Samuel\u00a016:7) with his next words, \u201cGod tests the heart\u201d and has pleasure in uprightness. God is always presented as the weigher of resolve (Proverbs\u00a016:1\u20133, Hebrews\u00a04:12). God\u2019s words to another king found in 2\u00a0Chronicles\u00a016:9 are a warning and an encouragement to us all: \u201cFor the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly.\u201d Loyalty in the Christian life is so important that there is no room for playing the fool.<\/p>\n

David\u2019s joy at the past resolve of the people was not so great that he could not see the danger of growing cold in obedience to God. His prayer continues in verse 18 with his request that God move upon the people in order to keep their resolve both in intent and thoughts of heart. He prays, \u201cfix their heart to You.\u201d Various translations use the phrase \u201cprepare their heart,\u201d or \u201cdirect their heart\u201d to You. The idea was that their thoughts be drawn to the Lord so that their works establish and confirm the resolution and carry out His service. Without God\u2019s grace, the best of a believer\u2019s resolutions toward real, eternal significance will languish and dissolve away.<\/p>\n

There were only four of all the kings of Israel and Judah that tried to be godly. God describes their effort of obedience with the terms \u201cfixing,\u201d \u201cpreparing,\u201d or \u201csetting\u201d himself to serve the Lord. One such passage is found in 2\u00a0Chronicles\u00a027:6: \u201cSo Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.\u201d The general idea being communicated is that King Jotham developed moral habits and was resolute in them.<\/p>\n

Did God give you any guidelines for formulating moral resolutions that have eternal benefits? The answer is a resounding, \u201cYes!\u201d Here are several resolution \u201cstarters\u201d worthy of your consideration: <\/p>\n