The new year always starts with us making some fairly silly resolutions. There are the typical ones that almost anyone can guess. Of course we have the kind like weight loss, spend less, quit drinking Diet Coke, or finally fix that leaky toilet sort of resolutions. Most of the time, we never fulfill those. The problem with holidays is that they end and jobs, school, kids, and life in general goes back the way it was previous to the holiday. There’s probably about as much a chance of change as there is the Dallas Cowboys winning a Super Bowl. (Did you just resolve to stop watching them?)
Then, there are the resolutions that matter. This year we are going to read the Bible through. Or, we are going to pray more, give more, spend more time with God. Then, as if these were resolutions that don’t matter, we get to Leviticus and get bored, we can’t seem to pray for that person who just gripes all the time, and work is still work, God.
Does this make you wonder why we bother? For some they don’t. Some people, having learned from their past missteps in making resolutions, refuse, because they know they won’t fulfill it anyway. They just keep going and going and going like that bunny that won’t quit hitting that drum.
Its funny isn’t it? We know exactly how to become habitual about everything, except how to get out of our habits. Smokers can’t quit, eaters won’t stop eating, workaholics, well, they aren’t reading this anyway. Churches are full of habitual liars. One guy told me he was going to stop losing his temper. Five minutes later we got into an argument over college football and he got up and walked out of my office mad. New year, same theme. We pronounce change and then fail.
I have no illusions to the fault of the church at this juncture. Oh, the church has one great habit no matter what sign is out front. We spend too much time worrying about changing worship styles to bother with your small failures. Just make sure you show up at 10 am on Sunday and put your money in the plate. Pathetic. Absolutely.
One of Satan’s greatest tools against disciples of Jesus is shame. In the eyes of Satan, that’s how he get to you. Shame. You do the sin, you do it a lot, but he can help wallow in it. What happens is that shame becomes as equally powerful as grace when we allow ourselves to feel bad about our failures and not keep moving forward.
Problem is, shame isn’t close to powerful when compared to grace. It’s not even the same universe. It just is in our heads and in our hearts. Shame is what causes us to not be able to change. The second we are down, we stay there.
How can we stop it? Truthfully, we can’t. No, I am not trying to be difficult, but you can’t do anything to stop it. Even the smallest of habits are lost on us the minute we try to stop. It takes a power to change us that is other-worldly. Why not try say, the HOLY SPIRIT? Why not? We’ve tried everything else. Why not allow the power of God to do something we haven’t been able to do at any point on our own.
Here’s the catch. Yes, there is always a catch. You have to do something. Sounds nuts right? I just wrote you can’t do anything, now I am telling you, you have to do something. In any case, its simple. Just one thing. Here goes:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:5-8 NIV)
