Resolutions and Repentance

- This blog was actually meant for earlier this year, but it certainly still applies. By this time many of us begin to wane in our New Years resolutions, but perhaps this will serve as a reminder that we should strengthen our resolve and continue to put up a good fight in both our yearly resolutions and in our processes of repentance -

Blog by: Jeff Sherrill

As we celebrate the New Year many of us reflect on the past year looking to see into where we can improve ourselves for the next year. Many of us make resolutions or at lease attempt to in an effort to improve ourselves and make the time that we have on this earth better than what we have experienced before. As we make the changes in our lives and as we put forth an effort to do the things which we promised ourselves to do we see that we can begin to improve our lives.

As I thought about the whole process of creating a New Year’s resolution and reflecting on past events I thought of how similar it was to the whole repentance process. One of the major points of repentance process is recognizing that a change is needed. At the end of the year it is just recognizing that a year has ended and another one has begun. At the same time in our lives it might be the end of a major event and the start of a new one or it might just be a simple understanding that a change can be made.

While recognizing a change needing to be made is absolutely fundamental to the process of the change, it all comes down to the action. When one makes a New Year’s resolution it will mean nothing in the end if nothing is done about it. At the same time, we can’t make the changes in our lives or be forgiven of our sins unless something is done to ensure that those things which are against the will of God no longer happen again. Action needs to take place. One can promise God to change their ways as much as they want but it will all be for nothing if something isn’t done.

In every instance of repentance in the scriptures, God has asked that whoever is being called to repentance takes part in some kind of action. To think that just believing you have changed means you have changed is the same as making a New Year’s resolution, doing nothing about it and then thinking you accomplished it.

As we start and celebrate a new year and as we reflect on the changes in our lives I ask that we all look to Him to see what changes we can make in our lives to more fit what He wants for us. Not only should we look at those things in our life but we should also make a sincere effort to DO the things that we set to do to honor Him more. Repentance means to change and we cannot change unless we act.