My One New Year Resolution

Unproductive.

Sidelined.

Missing the mark.

Behind in my work.

Self-critical thoughts assailed me during a period a few years ago when my husband and I were both sidelined by injuries in a couple of mishaps.

I think of myself as someone who grants myself and others a lot of grace. But sometimes life ambushes me and I don’t accomplish my goals, invest effectively in the people around me or live up to my own or to what I perceive as others' expectations. At those times, I realize that while I grant grace to others, I tend to measure my value by what I do.

However, in the Lord's economy, when I sit on the sidelines in human terms, His purposes have not been thwarted. I can still do the most important thing. When Jesus visited Mary and Martha, and Martha was troubled that her sister was simply sitting at His feet, Jesus said to Martha, "…you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41b-42 NET)

I recently attended a retreat on soul care that reminded me that caring for my soul is vital to living out the gospel. Now I’m thankful for circumstances that force me to slow down and remember that what I accomplish does not determine my relationship with God; apart from Jesus, I can do nothing.

So while I have plans and hopes for the new year–I've actually written them out–my one new year resolution this year is to regularly and purposefully sit at Jesus’s feet.

While you and I may accomplish many worthwhile things this year, let’s thank God that we can always do the best thing—we can sit at Jesus’s feet.