This might sound completely foreign to those of us who are resolution makers, goal setters and over achievers with well thought out plans dating all the way back to 19 72. But looking back, what exactly did those resolutions, goals, and plans do for us? How far did we make it into the year before we through them all out the window and hoped for better results in the next year. I have found many more times than I care to admit, that I barely made it through the first week before I realized I had already gotten off track and felt the urge to just give up. This year as I approached the new year I thought long and hard about the way I have always done things, fully remembering the old cliche “doing things the same way over and over again and expecting different results is insanity”. Yes, looking back “insanity” could describe the way I met each new year. As I reflected it came to me that the reason that each year came and went with very little success in keeping my resolutions, achieving my yearly goals, or accomplishing my well laid out plans had to do with “me”. Each of those resolutions, goals, and plans were ones that I felt were best for me to have a “successful” year. Not only were these things that I felt were best, but I also thought I would accomplish each and everyone of them in and of my own effort. There in lines the problem, the insanity of thinking that I could establish my own plans, carry out those plans on my own, and still make it through the year to even January 15th without failing miserably. This is where the insanity part occurs.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

This year rather than identify any new year resolutions, or identify any specific new year goals, or make any new plans I will rather wait and see what his thoughts are for me, because I know that his thoughts will bring peace, his thoughts will result in progress. So, rather than do the same thing I have always done expecting different results I am choosing a word from him. His work for me in 2025 is the word “ABIDE”.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except you abide in me.” John 15:4-5

To Abide means to remain, to stay, or to dwell in a place. In 2025 I want to remain in Christ, I want to stay with Christ, I want to dwell in Christ and I fully expect that I will find at the end of 2025 the thoughts that He had for me will be accomplished toward the expected end just as He intended. So no resolutions, no goals, and no pre-planned ideas for 2025. I will simply ABIDE !