And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Today we stand at the gate of a fresh new year. Stretching before us are 365 unlived days, bursting with potential. Traditionally, we pause to consider the ways we’d like to change in the coming months.
Usually, I keep lists of such personal promises—commonly called New Year’s resolutions. Yet today, as I look back over my lists, I make a discouraging discovery. For the past several years, they look all too similar:
I will be more disciplined.
I will get up earlier each morning.
I will lose 10 lbs. (15?).
I will always be on time.
I will be more patient.
Obviously, I’ve never been able to cross any of these goals off my list once and for all. Why? I wonder, and then I see an answer. The goals ignore the greatest resource of power for change in my life: God’s presence. They focus on me instead of my response to Him; they dwell on external results rather than drawing from internal strength. No wonder I’m not making much progress.
So this year, I’m going to try something different. Instead of listing a bunch of desirable external results, I’m going to focus on a single internal goal—cooperating with God by listening to Him and responding; choosing His way over my way.
To help I’ve even made up a visual image—Tandem Power. Just as a tandem bicycle is designed to function efficiently when two people cooperate and pedal together, Tandem Power is the idea of combining our human efforts with God’s strength and guidance.
Will you join me in a year-long effort to practice cooperating with God? Together we will examine the kinds of daily choices we face: our way or His way; drag our feet or pedal together; resist or cooperate.
Our first choice is before us. We stand at the gate of a New Year. God opens the gate; we choose to walk through. He shows us the way; we choose to follow. Together, we take the first step into the New Year.
Heavenly Father, as we begin the year, may we grow increasingly aware of Your presence in our lives, and cooperate with You, choice-by-choice, day-by-day, month-by-month.
