Hi friends! Most of us in America are back to work following Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Now the rubber meets the road in terms of New Year’s resolutions.

Personally, I avoid resolutions because, for me, they often become legalistic boundaries that leave me trying to “do” my Christian life rather than “be” the Christian God created me to be. However, if you are a person helped by establishing New Year’s resolutions, my hat is off to you, and I pray your resolutions serve as the impetus to grow in areas you desire to see God work.

Commitments to the Lord are helpful to me, though. “What’s the difference?” you might ask. Without attempting to be super theological, in my mind, the difference is that a resolution depends upon how capable I am of fulfilling it, while a commitment requires that I place my full faith and trust in God to accomplish His desire in me and through me. In humanness, there is failure in both, but grace abounds when “missing the mark” in trusting Him in the way He desires. Law abounds when I can’t meet my own standards and I “discipline myself” for not doing so. I want my “yes” to be “yes,” but attempting to “do” Christianity in my own power will set me up for failure!

So, with the mindset of commitment, I am encouraged by this January 1 exhortation to be in God’s Word. See if it encourages you as well. (It comes from Pastor Jack Hibbs at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills CA.)

Every year, our congregation commits to reading through the One Year Bible in the new year. Many reach this goal, and some give up mid-way. Others wonder if it is worth the effort. The answer is yes!

Consistent Bible reading builds truth upon truth, forming an unmovable foundation. Where I live, we experience jarring earthquakes, not whirlwinds. I’ve seen the devastation of poorly constructed or nonexistent foundations. Now, apply this spiritually. People erroneously believe devotional time isn’t a big deal. They say to themselves, “I’ll get to it later.” But later never comes. Then one day their world is rocked.

The foundation you lay of God’s Word will not buckle under pressure because it’s eternally relevant. We often see ancient life as somehow less complicated than it is now, but when I read my Bible, I see men and women just like us. They faced the same problems, hurts, temptations, and ultimately, the same choices you and I encounter today. When Scripture addresses our real-life issues, Solomon’s statement, “There is nothing new under the sun” shows itself truer than ever. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible answers the ups and downs of life.

It is a fact that quakes and storms will come, but the righteous have an age-abiding foundation. Read and apply God’s truth daily, and your foundation will be just like it—solid, strong, and able to withstand times of testing. In this coming year, may you go deep so that you can build high. 

Awaiting His Return!