New Year’s is often a time full of making resolutions for the future.  Over the course of the first week, however, our commitment to those resolutions often begins to wane.

As we embark on 2017, I wonder what might happen if we looked past aspirations to begin doing or stop doing something.  What if, instead of making resolutions, we simply pursued the act of being a people who are resolute?  What if we were defined solely by our determination and our unswerving purpose?

There are countless honorable and worthwhile pursuits, even healthy resolutions to consider. I can’t help but wonder, however, if it might do our hearts some good to have one less thing on our to do (or not to do) list.  What if our emphasis was on the condition of our hearts instead?

I don’t know about you, but I long to have a heart that is resolute in it’s pursuit of God and His people. If He is our determination and His kingdom is our purpose, it seems to me that any and all resolutions would flow naturally out of that steadfast heart. Matthew 6:33 challenges us, “above all, pursue His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Happy New Year from all of us at FPSM. We pray God’s richest blessings on you in 2017.