A "Haggai" New Year!

I have been reflecting on New Year's all weekend, and well, just haven't felt really motivated to come up with "resolutions."  Sure, I'm going to commit to getting back into my workouts each morning, as I have negleted those the past month, but that's a given.  That's easy.  I feel like a "resolution" should be something I truly "resolve" to do, and in some ways, I feel like I'm doing that all the time.  Everytime I mess up, which is pretty often, I "resolve" not to do that again.  So thinking of specific resolutions for New Year's is a bit exhausting to me.  It just makes me tired thinking about having more "to do"... more to "work on".  So I said a few "minute" prayers to God throughout the past few days... "Lord, show me areas of my life where I might need a "resolution" to be renewed, changed, or strengthened," or "Lord, give me a great "idea" or "task" that you are calling me to do, and let me set to it."  Hmm.  I just wasn't feeling it.  Not really in the mood for "New Year's"  this year, I guess.

He is so faithful.  Today the Lord lead me to Haggai, (yes, that's a book in the Bible) and it became pretty clear, pretty fast that the Lord was speaking a "Haggai New Year's" to me.  In case you are not familiar with Haggai, as I was not, he was the first of the post-exilic prohets.  (meaning the time period when the Jews began to return to Judah after being exiled to Babylon for 2-3 generations.  They were allowed to return and called on to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.)  So upon that return to Judah, the Jews began to rebuild their temple, but did not complete it.  Through the ministry of Haggai, (and some other prophets) the Jews were motivated and the temple was completed.

Oh how true is that for me.  I allow so many commitments to take precedence over my time.  I give in to the demands and expectations or work, church, family, hobbies, meetings, etc. only to have left the bare minimum for God, and that's on a good day.  Our values and priorities are reflected in how we live, what we say, and what we choose to do.  I know what I should be doing... how I should be living...  how important my quiet time is, my prayer time, and my listening to Him, but do I always do it.  I "resolve" to over and over, sometimes successful, sometimes not. 

But God calls me to continue in this relationship with Him.  Do not get discouraged by my own failures or sturggles in this walk, but persevere.  Press on in the race before me, continue to take up my cross, seeking Him wholeheartedly.  To let my struggles, imperfections, and small failures get the best of me would be to give in to pride and sin.

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

What does this have to do with Haggai the prophet?  He is calling the Jews to continue a great work.  To reassess their priorties and focus on rebuilding something that matters.  The House of the Lord.  For us, that is our hearts.  God is continually calling me to return to that place with Him, to prune, rebuild, renew, and grow.

"Then the word of the Lord came through the prohet Haggai:  "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"  Now this is what the Lord Almight says: "Give careful thought to your ways.  You have planted much, but have harvested little.  You eat, but never have enough.  You drink, but never have your fill.  You put on clothes, but are not warm.  You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." 3-6.
 Once again, I am reminded that my heart needs a little dusting.  I need to reassess priorties and recognize that though I may mess up, God is doing a great work in me.  I will confess my sins, and try again.  For to give up because I cannot attain perfection is not a choice.  For God promises perfection in the end for those who seek Him. 

"This is what the Lord Almighty says:  Give careful thought to your ways.  Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord." 7-8.

So my New Year's Resolution is this:  I will continue to nurture my relationship with Him, for only through Him will I be able to let go of those things I cannot change or control.  In that, true Freedom comes, and blessings will be found abundant.

"So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith." (Galatians 6:9,10)


I was touched when I read THIS today... Go here and be blessed.