We are now a week into the New Year and it might be a good time to take a step back and refocus on resolutions. The above was a post card prepared by Bishop John H. Vincent, during World War I, a tough time for most. It is a wonderful combination resolution. It is intimidating, unless we remember the last words. It’s all done by God, through our child like trust in Him and not by our own efforts.
Let’s look at it:
A Resolve for Every Morning of the New Year
I will this day try to live a simple, sincere and serene life. Repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity and self seeking. Cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity and the habit of holy silence. Experiencing economy in expenditure, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust and a child-like trust in God.
Wow if we could meet a bit of that. What a great picture of Christ-likeness. That won’t be achieved by annual resolution. We can’t just look at ourselves once a year and resolve to make changes. We are 24 hour cycle people. We need to renew our resolve daily. Just like we have a 24 hour work and rest cycle. We are require refocus on a daily basis. There was nothing wrong with the old discipline of daily examination of conscience. We need to daily take part in the two-step process.
That process is to look at Jesus and then look in the mirror. Bishop Vincent’s resolution is just a helpful summary of what we see when we look at Jesus. We long for the simple, sincere and serene life the Savior calls us to. We want the strength to repeal the negatives and cultivate the positives. It’s why He sent the Holy Spirit.
Let’s resolve to look to Him daily and rejoice in the tiny increments of change that the Spirit works in us and that will only be perfected when we are with Him forever.
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