Many people across the globe go into the new year with one form of resolution or the other. People usually would have a list of the things they want to start doing as soon as the new year arrives. There are those who would say they want to consume less alcohol. Some would say they want to live healthy and maintain a balanced eating life. Others might decide they want to be more closer to their families and loved ones, while some may make resolutions about living and trusting God more with their lives and endeavors. People always have that one thing or the other they want to do differently in the new year.
However, many of these resolutions never get fulfilled or adhered to. Many people ditch their new year resolutions long before the end of the first quarter of the new year. Here in this piece, I want to share with you why should partner with the Holy Spirit in ensuring that your new year resolutions are accomplished. I know you have a vision to live a fulfilling life this year. You have struggled in the past on so many areas of your life, but this year can be the beginning of a new dawn for you if only you would journey with the Holy Spirit.
In Zechariah 4:2, the angel of the Lord asked Zerubbabel: “What do you see?” Your new year resolutions are the things you see yourself doing in the new year. They are the things you didn’t do in the past year but which you desire you start doing. So to you, they are the things you see yourself doing. Perhaps you are a chain smoker, and you see yourself giving up that attitude of smoking in this new year, that may be what you see and desire. That is a resolution on your part. Perhaps, you are a disobedient child to your parents, and you want to come to terms with them in this new year, that is a resolution as well.
So, anything you see yourself doing differently in the new year is a resolution. But the point is this: Those things must actually leave the realm of seeing to the realm of achieving them, and it is at this point of achieving them that many people fail woefully. Everyone has plans, but it is not everyone who go all the way to see that their plans become a reality. But see what happened after the angel of the Lord asked Zerubbabel that important question: “What do you see?”
From verse 2, Zerubbabel answered the angel: “So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” Zerubbabel highlighted all the things he saw as requested by the angel. Just like many of you reading this piece right now have highlighted all that you saw and want in this new year.
You have listed what you want to stop doing, and what you want to start doing afresh. You have listed where you want to stop going, and where you want to start going. You have listed how you would move closer to God this new year, and move far away from every appearances of evil. You have probably listed as well relationships that you want to stay away from, perhaps those unprofitable relationships that you have entangled yourself with in the past and you want to start having some fresh, new relationships. All these are fine, they are beautiful decisions to make going forward.
However, you must pay attention to what the angel of the Lord said to Zerubbabel in verse 6 of that chapter. It says:
“So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.”Zechariah 4:6
In other words, the angel said to Zerubbabel, what you have said you saw is correct! However, you are not going to see them manifest in the physical by your power or strength because, if you try to bring about their manifestation in the flesh, you will fail at it. And this is where many new year resolution fail. Many people with one new year resolution or the other fail in the process of trying to do it alone. They want to see their new year resolution come into fruition on the grounds of their physical strength and resoluteness. But while this is good in one sense, it may fail in other sense because the Scripture says in 1 Samuel 2:9 that “For by strength no man shall prevail.”
So, the Spirit of the Lord said to Zerubbabel, don’t struggle in the flesh to bring this your vision into manifestation. The Spirit of the Lord would perform it. Well, does that mean Zerubbabel should hands off completely, No! That is not what the Spirit was saying. What the Spirit was simply telling Zerubbabel was that partner with the Holy Spirit in the realization of this vision that you just saw.
Just like many of you want to stop those bad and toxic habits that you have engaged in for so long in this new year. While that is a good idea which I commend you for, but you must not do it by yourself alone. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you drop those habits. You want to quit smoking, ask God to give you the strength to do so, while you also stay away from cigarettes. You want to stop alcohol consumption this year, ask God to help you with your resolution to stop while you also deliberately stay away from where they drink or serve alcoholic drinks. Perhaps you want to quit extra marital affairs and every appearances of it, ask God to help you while you also stay away from every avenue that can lead you to them.
One thing you should know and understand is this: In the areas where you can’t help yourself, God is more than willing to step in and help your weaknesses in those areas. This is why you must never leave Him out of the equation of your new year resolutions. Apostle Paul wrote concerning this; he said: “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). When it appears you are feeling weak in achieving your resolutions, that is when you should enlist the help of the Holy Spirit. He would be more than willing to help you.
So, in this new year, allow God to journey with you and you would see yourself overcoming every challenges that comes your way. If there is one thing you must remember, it is the fact that you must never leave God out of the equation of your life in this new year. You have struggled enough in the previous years, allow Him to help you this time around. Don’t allow the cares and pressure of this world to weigh you down, cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). I believe this short piece has blessed you one way or the other.
Happy New Year and God bless you!
Source: [Centre for New Dimension Leadership]
