I Only Have One New Years Resolution

      New Years Day came and went.  And guess where I was? Working a 12 hour shift. This isn't unusual for me; I've worked all through school. But things have been hard lately.  I've been overworking and underfeeding myself in every area of my life - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I've been so focused on studies that I don't make myself dinner.  I've packed my life with school and work and ministry that I've neglected my physical health and thus my emotional and mental as a result. I've been so focused on showing up to the ministry I'm involved in that I haven't given myself time to be still and have a quality relationship with Jesus. So basically, I've let myself down in a lot of ways.  As a result, I've also let others down because I'm not being responsible with who and what God has placed in front of me.

Things needed to change.  Here's my single New Years resolution for 2017. Its only one.

Be faithful.

     Why, you might ask? Recently I recognized in myself that I've been striving so hard for my dreams that I've neglected the present. I took time between Christmas and New Years to seriously evaluate myself. What is the attitude of my heart? What is making me anxious? What future plans are stealing my present focus? Why is my spiritual life not filling me to overflowing? How am I praying intentionally for those around me and for myself? What worries do I have for next year? What things did I do wrong this year that held me back and negatively impacted others? What changes do I need to make for a healthier me? The result was awareness of huge laps in my spiritual health that were negatively effecting every area of my life.

     A few days ago, I had the immense privilege of attending Passion 2017 conference in Atlanta, GA. In a giant stadium, 55,000+ college students worshiped together and listened to Christian authors and teachers share, encourage, and challenge my generation. There were many things I still mull over in my heart, but together the take-away cumulated to this: to be faithful in the future is to be faithful now. Christine Caine challenged us to endure when hardship comes. Dr. John Piper shared that the essence of evil to actually prefer things over Christ.  Beth Moore challenged us to not look for short cuts in a long-term call. Levi Lusko reminded us that hardships will come and to be the fragrance of Christ we will be crushed and must endure. As I'm looking to graduate college soon and continue to pursue the dreams God has placed on my heart, I now recognize I must be faithful everyday, in the quiet and difficulty, in order to be faithful long term.

Passion2017 

     I'm choosing to walk faithful today. Tomorrow will worry about itself. But today, I'm choosing to be faithful to Christ. I'm choosing to be faithful to him by taking care of my body. I'm choosing to be faithful to him by saying "no" when I have too much going on. I'm choosing to be faithful to him by making time for him in the midst of stress and chaos.  I'm choosing to be faithful to him in how I prioritize my time and make my decisions.  I'm choosing to be faithful to him by purposefully praying for my family and those he's placed in my path. I'm choosing to be faithful to him as I pray for direction for the future.

     This one resolution has a widespread impact on my life because its not about a list, its about a heart shift and an attitude readjustment. My eyes are focused on the prize; Jesus, here and now. And that changes everything.