It's the beginning of May. We're about a third of the way through 2017.
I know, it's not the typical time of the year that you hear about resolutions. But who says resolutions can only be made once a year?
I wanted to write about this because it's been so important in my life. So many people make resolutions at the beginning of a new year. But how many follow them throughout the year? Do they even remember what they were after a month goes by? Or four months?
I remember mine.
I will always remember mine.
These were my resolutions:
1. Seek God first, in everything.
2. Love my husband, and stand by his side always.
3. Be the best mom I can be for my children.
My resolutions this year will be my resolutions every year. Every day, every minute. There is nothing more important than these. Nothing. If you have a family, fight for these things, make them a priority, be mindful of them in all you do.
Seek God First
Matthew 6:33 says,
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
"above all else"
There is nothing that should be above God. Not ourselves, not other people, not our job, not our good works. He comes first. Seek Him. Read His Word, pray, develop your relationship with Him. Do this above and before everything else.
Actively make time for God. And then look what happens. Putting God first naturally leads to living righteously, and when these things are in your life, God gives you everything you need.
Everything you need.
Deuteronomy 6:5 says,
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Not only do we need to love God, but we need to do it with everything we've got. It should be evident in our words, our actions, our Instagram posts, and the essence of our very being. Of course there are many areas of our lives. But if God's love is not shining in all of them, then either rethink your involvement in that area or reevaluate your role in it.
Love Your Spouse
This seems like a no-brainer if you are married. But I'm not talking about the kind of love people define with emotions or attraction. Marriage is deep. Marriage is work. Marriage takes more than feelings and common interests to keep it strong. This kind of love is a choice and a commitment.
My pastor preached a sermon a couple of weeks ago and spoke of "The God kind of love". It's that kind of love that does not falter with circumstances or hurt. God loves us unconditionally. He's no fair weather fan. He gave His Son for us when we turned our backs on Him.
God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love - no that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10
This is the example of love that we have. He loved us first. Not because we loved Him or were faithful and obedient to Him. Just because He chose us and loved us.
I've been married to my husband for 13 and a half years, and we are still learning how to love each other. We've had some really rough times over the years. What held us together was choosing God first, and choosing each other next. These go hand in hand. Without actively making both of those choices, marriage can so easily fail.
Mark 10:6-9 says,
But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation.‘ This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
God created marriage to be lifelong. A husband and wife become one, they become part of each other. Be one with your spouse. Pray together, parent together, do life together. And choose to love and stand by each other every day, through every part of life.
Do your Best For Your Children
This also seems like it shouldn't even need to be said. Sadly, it does. For most, I think we have a natural tendency to love and protect our kids. But this is more than that. I'm talking about actively parenting with a goal of being the best parent you can be. That means sacrificing your time, money, and comfort to do what's best for them. Our children are the future. How we parent will not only affect them, but it will affect their future spouse, their future kids, and pretty much everyone in their circle. Who our parents are shapes us into who we become. Even the absence of a parent does that.
Making a point to invest in your children will be one of the most valuable things you do with your life. They were given to you so you could do this. If nothing else, we must raise our children to know and live God. This is our greatest task. Just as We see in Deuteronomy 6:5 that we are to love God with all of our heart, would, and might, it goes in to say this:
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Time goes so quickly. They grow so fast. They take shape before your eyes. Parent on purpose, and don't let years slip by without making them count.
I have resolved to do all these things better this year, and I can say that I am in a better place with God, my husband and my kids than I've ever been before. But I'm not stopping there. I want to make every day better than the last. I want to resolve to live my life with these things as my ultimate goal. And everything in life that does not relate to these goals, is taking a back seat.
Make these resolutions your own today. Don't wait till next year. Today can be the beginning if a new life. You won't regret it. If you don't make them your priority, I guarantee you will not have all that you could in this life.
I believe God's greatest blessings are waiting for you if you do these things: Seek God first, love your spouse, and do your best for your children.
Resolving to live in God's best will always be hard work, it won't always feel good, and it will take everything you've got, but it's worth it.
