Finding a New Kind of Resolution

I've always loved New Year's Day, the annual fresh start. Followed by January - the month of potential.

I recall sitting down one January years ago with a yellow legal pad, pencil in hand, ready to determine my New Year's resolutions.

I thought through each major area of my life: my career, relationships, finances and faith. I wrote down all the things I wanted to stop doing, and all the things I wanted to start doing.  I looked over my list. And immediately felt overwhelmed.

I clearly had much to work on. Much to do. Much to fix. Much to establish. And much to kick.

I was going to need more coffee.

It was that same familiar urge rising up that I talked about in my devotion published today with P31: to try to make myself both more and less of me. Am I the only girl repeatedly plagued by such thoughts?

I assumed tackling all these flaws and developing all these good practices would make my life great - and that's a hard belief to shake.

Then I cracked open my Bible, with its message of grace and of Spirit-fueled transformation. Looking through the lens of the Gospels, I saw a different story than the one scribbled on my notepad. And I got a much needed injection of direction.

　

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."  ~ Jesus in John 15:4 

I realized that life in Christ is not intended to be an exercise in willpower for behavior modification. It’s intended to be an exercise in yielding for heart transformation.

Once again Jesus shushed my endless listing of all the things I want to change or improve about myself. Once again He afforded me humble contentment with who I am and who I'm made to be, along with the promise of coming fruit. Really, what could be better?

I do New Year's resolutions quite differently now, but you can read about that in my previous post.

Welcome if you are new here - take a second to say "hello."

My One Word for 2012

cre∙ate: cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.

This is my one word for 2012.

Each year for the last six years I've ditched the idea of New Year's resolutions in favor of prayerfully choosing just one word to be my focus for the year. One word that represents what I most hope God will do in and through me over the months to come.

I spend the month of January choosing the word carefully. And often my word doesn't make a lot of sense to others. At least not as much sense as it makes to me. For example, last year my one word was PERPEITY. (See, I told you.) The year before that it was SLOW.

This year I've chosen the verb CREATE. It's the first verb to appear in the Bible. Chapter one, verse one.  In fact, it's our first recorded act of God. Not that I'm planning to hover over dark waters and create some earth this year ... unless maybe I paint landscapes on the beach at midnight. Or I get time to write a novel - that could count as creating a world.


Why CREATE?

Actually I chose CREATE because in the last few years my heart has developed a singular mission: to create a life that is pleasing to God. My drive is to fulfill the purpose for which I was created -- for God's great pleasure. (see Revelation 4:11)

I want to create work that proclaims His fame. I want to create a home and relationships that honor Him. I want to produce faith that pleases Him. And I want to realize afresh that I came "into being as something unique that would not naturally evolve or result from ordinary processes" - that I've been made holy and set apart in Christ.



MY ONE WORD Wednesdays

Throughout 2012 I'll be doing My One Word Wednesdays here. Each week, mid-week, I'll be posting on the word CREATE.  I'll look at what the Bible says about it. (I love that the dictionary definition hints that there is something supernatural about the process of creating.) I'll teach on verses I'm studying in my quiet time on it. I'll also share others' insights on creating. And I'll reveal any struggles I encounter with my word.

I'll talk about creativity - I'm a writer after all. Yes, creativity and productivity. But also about learning to rest and be the created.  Worshipping the Creator. This is ultimately about spiritual formation, which is the process of growing into the new heart Salvation creates within us. 

And I'll keep you abreast of my personal creative projects. Do you promise not to laugh if I do paint on the beach at midnight and post a photo of my sloppy masterpiece?

My current creative project is a book I'm co-authoring with my pastor Mike Ashcraft on this My One Word movement.  It will release the end of this year with Zondervan, provided I finish creating the manuscript by March. (Now would be a really good time to pause and pray for me if you would be so kind!) Email me if you've got a great story on living with one word - you might make it into the book!

So stay tuned for more to come. And if you aren't familiar with the My One Word movement click on the image above to visit our website and learn more. I'll be posting there some this year as well. Consider prayerfully choosing one word for 2012 and if you've already chosen a word, go post it on the site - I can't wait to read it!

Fundamental Attribution Error

Ever notice that we have a tendency to attribute other people’s behavior to their disposition or character, but to link our own behavior to our environment or circumstances?

I can’t help it – it’s my upbringing, my situation, my biology, my____.

Psychologists call this the fundamental attribution error.

For example, if we see a stranger trip, they must be clumsy or absentminded. But if we trip, well there must be something on the floor, or stuck to our shoe. We automatically look back at the ground with a wrinkled brow.

(Photo: sandman_kk / CC)

Even if there is nothing there, we'll sometimes pretend there was!

When we ignore the speed limit, it’s because we seriously need to get somewhere quick – like to work on time or we’ll be in trouble. We’re not really “speeders,” it’s just that our circumstances necessitate it today (and every time we’re running late).

But when another car speeds past us, weaving through traffic, it’s because they are irresponsible - and we hope they get pulled over.

I'm not really a speeder, I'm not really a liar, I'm not really lazy, I'm not really a cheater, it's just that ...
It’s always totally “their bad” but it’s never quite  fully “our bad.” It doesn’t take much pondering to figure out why this is – we want to excuse our behavior. To not have to examine it, change it or feel bad about it.

Yet we do feel bad about it.  Every so often – maybe when a romantic partner leaves us, or at New Year’s, or when convicted by God’s Spirit – we take an honest look at ourselves, and we want to change.

Once we decide to change, we attack our problematic behavior with all the will power we can summons. Because, we assume, that is what it takes to change.

I wonder if this isn't another kind of fundamental attribution error. 

Biblically speaking, is it our willpower that changes us? Christ said He can do nothing apart from the Father. And, Christ said, we can do nothing apart from Him. ( see John 15:5)

So, where does our strength come from? Regret-fulled willpower, or Spirit-fueled transformation?  Which one do you tend to rely on?

Holidays are for ...

Congrats, Kari. As commenter #18 you've won a copy of It's No Secret.  Shoot me over your address so I can get it in the mail to you.

French pressed decaf coffee - check.

Tangerine Lemongrass candle lit - check.

Quiet time done - check.

Music for Productivity - check.

Now I'm beginning my writing session for the day. To be followed by the gym, some straightening in the master suite, and a movie with the kids.

What's on your agenda this Martin Luther King day?  Hope it's a good one.