“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16
Who’s ready to make some New Year’s resolutions? It’s already almost that time of year, and I often feel behind in figuring out what I want to improve on in the upcoming year. Is this the year I finally start working out regularly? Or maybe it’s the year I pick up that hobby I bought supplies for three resolutions ago. Instead of feeling excited about self-improvement, I sometimes dread it—am I the only one?
As I think about resolutions, I want to look to these verses as encouragement. How will we respond when we fall short of our own expectations? When we miss that first workout, will we give up and say, “Well, at least I tried more than last year?” Or will we choose to say, “God, today I stumbled, but I’m looking to you to help me get back up.” That small shift invites God into our struggles and reminds us we don’t have to go it alone. Instead of getting discouraged, we’re planting God’s wisdom deeper in our lives, leaning on Him rather than our own strength.
Another thought that comes up often is that there’s never enough time to get everything done. But maybe it’s about how we prioritize. Imagine each goal or responsibility as a small stone, something you’d place in a jar. Now, think of Jesus as a large rock you’d want to add in alongside those smaller stones. If you fill the jar with all the small stones first, Jesus—the rock—might not fit. But what if we put Jesus in the jar first? Then, when we add our other goals and responsibilities around Him, everything seems to fit better.
This is how we shift our perspective. When we make room for Jesus first, He gives us the strength and wisdom we need to take on everything else. As we start this new year, let’s be intentional about making space for Jesus in our lives and allowing His guidance to shape our plans. Let’s see how much more we can accomplish when we are rooted in Him.
Let us pray.
Submitted by Kurt Hamilton
Prayer
God, today we choose to make room for you first. We place everything in our lives around you. Instead of trying to handle things on our own, we invite you to step in and show us the peace and strength you bring. Remind us that we’re never alone—we have your love, wisdom, and strength guiding us each day. As we enter this new year, let it be a time of growth and partnership with you, as we work together to accomplish new things. We rejoice in you, our King and Leader, for this opportunity. Thank you, God. Amen.