New Year, New Resolve

Thinking about resolutions. Everyone does it, but to we really RESOLVE? I know I have never been successful, but this year, I am going to try a different approach. In this beautiful devotional that my littlest sister gifted me, Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, I found two ultimate lists to strive for. Moses' list and Peter's list.

These two lists are the basis of our Christian walk of faith. Moses'list, found in Exodus 20:3-17, is our list of laws. Given to us, through Moses by God. Why not make it a resolution. These things are all attainable, with work and effort and the help of the Lord. We need only ask Him.

Exodus 20:3-17New International Version (NIV)

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Peter's list, on the other hand, is a list of how we should live a godly life. Found in 2 Peter 1:5-8, gives us the most important aspects of showing the love of God to others. 

2 Peter 1:5-8New International Version (NIV)

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm basing my list on these. Comment your resolutions below. Let's also encourage and pray for each other.