“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” (Psalm 73:26)
Happy New Year! Another new year is here, and another set of good intentions, called resolutions, are made by so many of us. So, what is a resolution? Well, it is a firm decision to do or to not do something. It’s the quality of being determined or resolute. So let me ask you, how firm is your resolve and determination this year?
You might be curious to know that January 19th has been called Quitters Day. It seems to be the day that most folks give up and quit on their New Year’s resolutions. It’s reported that 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February. So apparently the majority of our resolves are about as firm as butter. But in Proverbs 24:10, we begin to get a diagnosis as to why failure happens in the first place: “If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.”
See, the reason our resolve fails is that when faced with pressure, our strength is too small. Be it therefore resolved that we need a bigger strength. I found a wonderful passage to meditate upon throughout this new year. “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” (Psalm 73:26)
Did you hear the bigger strength mentioned? It’s God himself. Yes, God wants to be your strength. When you’re facing pressure and finding your strength to be too small, lean into God. In Him you will discover a strength that is greater than any human willpower or mind tricks.
How? It’s called faith. Faith to call out to God for help, trusting His promise that he cares and will lift you up. Faith to claim His promises in truth out loud, in the face of pressures and doubt and insecurity. Faith that calls out in times of failure seeking forgiveness through confession. Faith that refuses to count past mistakes larger than the future of God’s plan for you. Faith that clings to the truth that when we are weak, He is strong.
There is no failure of health, spirit, or willpower that will be bigger than God’s love for you in Christ. So happy New Year! Be it therefore resolved that God remains the strength of your heart this year.
God, we do ask that You would be our strength. We are mindful of our weakness, but we are also mindful that in You we find strength. So strengthen us in this new year to live lives that are healthy and according to Your purpose and Your will. Grant to us Your strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen.