Happy New Year!!! ... "Don't Worry."

So we are officially ONE week into the new year -2012. That being said, I know many people have made New Year Resolutions...  On that note, I've noticed something this year, that I don't recall in past years. I've actually been seeing people receiving a lot of flack for making NY Resolutions. What's that about?? I suppose the thought behind it is that people tend to make lofty resolutions, pursue them passionately for the first few days, weeks, and maybe even months of the year... only to slowly return to pre-resolution status. 

Resolution: to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something) / A firm decision to do or not to do something.

I don't think it's such a bad idea. To me, there is nothing wrong with self-evaluation and a decision to consciously work on something, in an effort to better yourself. I would caution that we shouldn't WAIT until the 1st of the year to start doing it though! ;-) I resolved long ago, to constantly strive to perfect myself. It's a daily process. *smile* I can surely admit that I am a work-in-progress, but the key to that, is I am striving to progress. I am not complacent. With that being said, I do not usually make a "New Year Resolution" ... I like to make daily, weekly, and monthly resolutions, as God speaks to my heart.

This year though, I am going to try something new. I have set a New Year Resolution for myself and I'd like to share it with you. Throughout 2012 (and beyond), my goal, is to worry less. My goal is to stop worrying and fretting over things/people/situations that are out of my control. I will do everything within my God-given power to do. I will pray - and then I will go to sleep at night, with my heart at peace!  One of the first verses I ever committed to memory is Psalm 51:10: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a *steadfast spirit within me."   

*"Steadfast" is defined as: Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew within me a firm and unwavering spirit. This is my prayer. When I feel myself begin to worry, when I feel weak... this is my prayer.

Initially, that was all I intended to share, but God just ushered me to look the verse up in it's context - thank you, God. I'm glad I did... verses 11-12 just blessed me! In it's entirety, Psalm 51:10-12 is as follows:      

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 

 My prayer for 2012, is as follows:

You see, I have - excuse me, - I HAD a tendency to let my imagination get the best of me. I would think about and consider EVERY possibility, and I felt as though I couldn't rest until there was resolution or at least, a plan in place to resolve whatever the issue was. I think I felt like, as long as I had everything figured out (ha!), then I could control the outcomes (double HA!)... Unknown variables made me uneasy. But during the last few months of 2011 through this 1st week of 2012, the recurring theme in my spirit has been, "don't worry". God has spoken to me through so many different avenues... sermons, scriptures, friends, situations, and the list goes on. "Don't worry"... Then the more I think about it, the more I have realized, absolutely NO good comes from me worrying endlessly. Actually, just the opposite, we can literally worry ourselves sick. We can bring physical ailments on ourselves from the stress caused by worrying. When I look back at the things that I've spent hours and hours worrying about, in EVERY case, God worked it out (one way or the other), and my worrying was not a contributing factor. I'd go out on a limb and say, at least 50% of the time (if not more), the situations resolve themselves and turn out not to be anything worth worrying about in the first place. I've come to the realization, that I need to face and acknowledge the situations that would generally cause me to worry, think it through as I usually would, do the things in my God-given power to do... and then let God take it from there. What does that mean practically? It means, that instead of keeping the situation at the forefront of my mind, continually fretting over it and running the possible outcomes through my mind, I will instead pray each time those thoughts rise up and thank God for handling it. 

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

It means I won't toss and turn at night. I won't lose sleep. I will thank God for handling it and then I will sleep peacefully through the night. It means I won't spend time and tears crying over things/people I have no control over... that energy can be much better spent in positive ways. So many times we spend time worrying about things/situations/people that aren't worried about US. For what? What good is it doing anyone? None. The Bible tells us, 

  “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

I think that anytime we resolve in our hearts and our spirits to do something, to make an integral change, it is important that we arm ourselves with a scriptural basis, a foundation, if you would. If the change was easy, we wouldn't need to make it a resolution in order to implement it in our lives. If it came naturally, it wouldn't be an issue. In order to make these types of changes last and become a cohesive part of who we are, we need God's help. So often we attempt to do these things on our own and this is why we end up in the same places, setting the same resolutions time and time again. So as you have decided upon New Year Resolutions (and/or your daily resolutions), I would urge you to find scripture to support your resolve. Something you can hold onto throughout the year, throughout life. A word from God, that can help you get through the times of weakness.

Another helpful tool for success is to write these things down - somewhere where you will see it often. Encourage yourself. 

It also helps to share your resolution with someone who will act as an accountability partner, for you. I'll often confide in my sister, grandmother, and sometimes even my daughter, on what I am working on perfecting, within myself. This way, they can hold me accountable and if I fall off track, they can steer me back in the right direction... Everyone can benefit from a support system! Can't think of anyone? Helllooooo, that's what WE'RE here for!! :-) 

  "Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
   one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
   and has no one to help them up."

~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

What are your resolutions/goals for the new year... or even for the day? 

What are you currently working on perfecting in YOUR life?

What scriptures have you found that support the resolution you've made?