Choosing a Higher Altitude

I'm not sure about you but facing another year seems a little daunting this time around.  Maybe it is because I'm a little older.  Maybe life has left me a little frayed at the seams. A few days ago I felt a little pessimistic about setting New Year’s resolutions and walking in anticipation of what the year will bring. I looked back at 2011 and felt a little disgruntled.  I had started the year out so strong, even made little rebound lurches in the first quarter. The second quarter came along and I was buried up to my good intentions with a mountain of false starts, missed targets, battered fists and a bruised nose.  I breezed through the third quarter because I was busy with the hot air of summer and many life adjustments.  I rode the high of the fourth quarter with all of its turkey, traditions and jingle bells driven by the hope of a Christmas miracle.  But on the first day of the New Year I fell flat on my face with the realization that I have ignored my goals with the practiced proficiency of pretending it doesn't matter. So, I have decided that I'm not going to join the yearly tradition of creating a new set of resolutions while practicing the false belief that it's "all up to me baby!"


I'm not saying that setting goals is wrong nor am I saying that I have no control over whether I obtain them or not. I'm asking myself how frequently I include God in my goals. And I'm wondering what would be different this year if I did. I'm not going to just set a goal to get healthy, lose more weight and read my Bible everyday; I'm going to ask God what he would like me to achieve this year.  What does he see that needs to be changed in my life or added?  I'm saying I should make God my life coach and see how different the results will be at this time next year. 

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog with a quick phrase that has stuck in my mind.  I had decided that I was going to, "wake up in the morning with a better attitude by choosing a higher altitude!" That is now my drive for this year.  I disappoint myself on a frequent basis and as I see it I have only two ways that I can deal with this; determine that it doesn't matter and "love myself anyway," or determine that it does matter and give myself, with all my gifts and frailties, over to God who never disappoints.

Keeping this in mind these are my new year’s resolutions:  To daily ask and listen for the God given goals that He will share with me on my day to day journey. Talk to God last every night and greet him first every morning.  Keep a daily journal that catalogs all the blessings that God will share with me each day.  They're there, big and small.  Often I ignore them because they are not great miracles or obvious to everyone else.  But I have found that when I search for and record them, hope stirs in my heart and my outlook is elevated. Before long I see the positive spin in everything, a blessing around every corner and praise flows forth freely from my unburdened heart. But above all this, I am resolved to let go; lifting empty hands for God to fill.

Abraham had a great promise from God. His son, Isaac, was the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise.  But one day God asked that he sacrifice that child; not because God desired human blood but to know that nothing stood between God and Abraham.  God wanted to know that Abraham trusted him so completely that he would even give up his child while resting on the assurance that God could raise him back from the dead.  Abraham had the promise; God said he would have a son and Isaac was that promised child.  Abraham knew that God doesn't make a promise and then change his mind; “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29)  He had such faith in God that he obeyed without question.  It didn't matter that he didn't understand why.  It didn't matter that the request seemed out of character for God.  It didn't matter that the task would be hard and the fear great.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8)

Abraham was willing to let go, empty everything from his hands, trusting that God would give back everything he had promised.  That is my ultimate resolve for this year; to let go, because everything I hold too tightly separates me from God's love and prevents me from being truly free.  In 2012 I will embrace the perfect love of my Heavenly Father which will cast off the bondage of fear that has repressed me my whole life.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

I will let go of everything and wait for God to provide all that he has promised.  So let the storms roll on; I will find the higher elevation and dance in the rain!

God Bless

Amy Charissa Warren