“Manufacturers and retailers prod us to make resolutions so we will then drop coin with them to buy things to help us keep these resolutions. Motivational speakers and preachers (hard to tell them apart at times) also encourage us to set goals for the new year. I used to do this, but it was frustrating every year to see how quickly I broke my resolutions. So a few years ago I resolved not to set any more goals or resolutions—other than this. I resolve to stay dead.” (“My New Year’s Non-Resolution”, http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-new-years-non-resolution)
This is harder than it sounds. We have to learn (and re-learn, and re-re-learn) that our standing with God isn’t based on what we do, but by what God did for us. There is nothing we can do to make him love us more. Or less. So what pleases Him is when we recognize His love for us and allow that to direct, shape and color our words and actions toward Him and toward each other.
It’s not about following a checklist so we can be sure we covered all our bases today. It’s longing to spend our live together with the One who loved us and loosed us from our sins. It’s not about figuring God out. It’s about learning how trustworthy He is.