Spring Resolutions

Mike and I just returned from a trip to DE to visit family. One excursion we made was to visit Longwood Gardens in PA. The tulips were in full bloom, and there was new growth everywhere we turned! New growth equates to new beginnings for me!

Easter comes during the Spring season and is, indeed, a time for new beginnings for God’s earthly creation. New leaves are emerging from tree branches that have been barren for several months; flowers are shooting up from the dirt; flowering shrubs are becoming very colorful with a variety of beautiful blooms; farmlands are being prepared for the season; and the birds are still singing every morning!

However, for me, this time of year seems much like New Year’s Day! Why?

Easter signals to me a time of new beginnings, much like the beginning of a new calendar year. I think of new life in Jesus. I think of Easter as a wonderful reminder of what God’s Son did on that cross for you and me - new life here on earth and new life, called eternal life, in heaven. It is a time of repentance and renewal of our trust and faith in God. It is a time of recognizing God’s unrelentless faithfulness toward us.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-24

What should we do in response to this time? A new year or a new Easter?

With each new year, I used to make New Year’s resolutions. I was pretty good at keeping it/them for about a month. Then the “slip” came. My focus was distracted, and I wasn’t as disciplined with keeping these resolutions. I suppose they didn’t have enough impact or importance on my life for me to continue.

With each Easter season, I have not always been very disciplined with the 40 days of Lent “sacrifice”, just as I wasn’t with New Year’s resolutions. Why is that? My distractibility! My less-than-disciplined perseverance! My maybe next year mindset?

But I realize now that if I am not in focus with Jesus every day, then my future may be in jeopardy! And as I watch each year creep upon me, I know that there is no time like now to focus on my future, but not just focus – take action. Study, pray, worship, help others, be kind to all. Make the commitment to Jesus and stick with it!

I am much more focused on my faith now than I was on those resolutions. The resolutions were made with a goal in mind – losing weight, exercising more, reading more, writing a book, etc. What happens after those goals are achieved (or not)? Others are implemented. Goals can be a positive aspect of our lives to enrich us and enhance our days and keep us organized. But what do they do to help us navigate the trials of everyday life?

My faith is created and strengthened with a goal in mind – more of Jesus; spending eternal life with Him in heaven; being able to talk with Him every minute of every day; having a constant friend who knows every single thing about me and leads me through this life with His faithfulness.

As we move from Spring into the hot and often drought-stricken Summer, the trees may turn brown from lack of water; the flowers may do the same; the crops will need irrigation to survive. However, we must remember that the birds will still continue to sing every morning. Our faith will be strengthened as God leads us through these drought-stricken trials of everyday life.

 “But forget all that—    it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new.    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness.    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)

What will your response be to this time of year? Let us view this Easter as a new beginning for our faith walk. Try a new approach. Do something different for Easter lunch or dinner. Attend church the Sunday after Easter and keep going. Plan time with Jesus and watch the “new thing” He is going to do in your life. Commit to Him, and He will not waive from you. AND you will want to continue your focus on this most important relationship in your life!

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel