From Christmas Cookies to Counting Calories

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

I can do nothing on my own.  John 5:30aESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians s 4:13 ESV

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

You know the New Year is just around the corner when shops and advertisements boomerang from images of whipped cream-topped hot cocoa and a mouthwatering cookie, to aisles of treadmills, ellipticals and tax prep packages. Yep, we’ve turned the corner from “The most wonderful time of the year” to a season of making resolutions of weight loss, getting out of debt or ending a bad habit. A season that’s ripe with determination to try harder, and take advantage of the clean slate in front of us. Yet, before we see Valentine candy on the store shelves, many of us are already filled with despair at our lack of ability or willpower to maintain the desired course corrections.

I promise not to add to your list of what you must do or change or how you must do better in the coming year. No guilt trip here. What I will do is remind both of us of the foundational truth that we are a broken, lost, hot-mess people, unable to change ourselves. Willpower, determination or positive thinking, will not (alone) do the trick, though those are definitely our allies in the process. As with the salvation of our soul, He alone is able to change us from the inside out, and enable us to become all He has planned for us.

That plan may include reevaluating our health (or lack of it), reevaluating relationships or how we spend our resources of time, talent and money. It most certainly includes an honest assessment of our relationship with Jesus Christ, the One who paid our sin debt in full. What it doesn’t include is an end-of-our-rope striving to be better, do better and work harder to be “good” (as if…).

We can do nothing on our own, but we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. We are His workmanship, His masterpiece. And as you see treadmills filling store aisles, refuse to despair. May they be only reminders that you are His workmanship. Rely on His wisdom, strength and ability to put His finger on areas of needed change and provide what’s needed to live out the life He has given you.

If you wait until you feel like taking action, you’ll never make progress.

Don Howe

Father, Please put Your finger on areas of my life that need changed or reevaluated. As I honestly acknowledge them, enable me to make whatever course corrections are necessary as I lean into You as my Strength to accomplish what I cannot. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus