Did you make New Year’s resolutions? It’s almost mid-January. How’s it going?

For me, I’ve barely gotten started. New Year’s began January 5, and–silly me–I thought I’d have a full week to at least pretend I was going to achieve some of my goals. Start out strong. Show early progress. But, of course, things don’t always go as I plan, and they certainly didn’t last week, and won’t again this week.

That’s the way life is. What’s the old saying? “People plan, God laughs”?

It’s sad to get discouraged by the mid-point of the first month, but sometimes I do. I shake my head and remind myself that it was my stupid idea to set lofty goals in the first place, and there’s no way I’m going to reach them, and next year, my resolution is going to be to eat everyday because at least I know I can do that. Write an article by the deadline? Ha! Who am I kidding? The deadline looms, and all those days I thought I’d have to myself so I could write have already passed, filled with things that weren’t in the plans, and the next several days are filled with planned things that have nothing to do with writing.

Does missing this one goal mean I’ve failed already this year?

Of course not–the year has barely started. Besides, I don’t know what God has in mind for my “activities.”

This verse, quoted from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, is different from the way it was written in the New King James: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” I like both versions, but for the purposes of New Year’s resolutions, or goal planning, or deadline setting, or whatever you mark as your “must do” measurement, Holman works best. This version reminds us that our plans will be achieved. They’ll be achieved in God’s time and God’s way–because, after all, we’ve committed our activities to Him for Him to do with as He pleases.

So, if you’re like me, and you’re already kicking yourself for your lousy start to the year, take heart. If you didn’t commit your works and activities to Him when you made your plans, commit them now, then just rest in the assurance that He’ll guide you till everything needing to be done is done.

“Be of good cheer!”