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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 1, 2005 Resolute |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, January 1, 2005 By Don Kress
Text for the Day: Psalm
103
Happy New Year! It seems like only yesterday when we were all worried
about the onslaught of Y2K, and here it is 2005 already!
Today I want to talk about those New Year resolutions. I’m not the first
Frontline writer this week to focus attention on this most timely of subjects.
The dictionary has nine different definitions for the word “resolution.”
I think the resolution that best fits what we usually think of as we begin a new
year is “a firm determination to do something.” That’s what our New
Year resolutions are about – determining to do something about something in
our lives that we don’t like about ourselves. We resolve to lose weight,
to exercise more, to allocate more time to our personal spiritual development,
to spend less time at the office, etc., etc. I don’t know about you, but
most of the New Year resolutions I’ve made in the past are broken and
forgotten within a couple months. In fact, I must confess that for the
most part I’ve resolved not to make New Year resolutions!
But in preparing today’s devotion, one definition of resolution that really
struck me was the musical definition: “the progression of a voice part
or of the harmony as a whole from a dissonance to a consonance.” For
those of you who aren’t musicians, that can be interpreted as a progression
from a sound that is out of tune and unpleasant to the ear to one that is
pleasingly in tune. Maybe that’s what my New Year resolution should be
– to spend this year in tune with those around me! Perhaps I should take
it a level higher and strive to be in tune with God.
That’s what Psalm 103 is about – being in tune with God, not forgetting all
His benefits, recognizing His loving kindness and tender mercies, realizing that
He does not punish us according to our iniquities, and understanding that while
our years come and go, His mercy is eternal. And, if we are indeed in tune
with God, we can’t help but be in tune with those around us!
Psalm 103 reminds us that our Heavenly Father is resolute in His love for us.
So resolute that He sent His only Son into the world for us and for our
salvation. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Happy New Year, indeed!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I begin a new year, help me to stay in tune
with you. Help me to realize that you are the same as ever, slow to chide
and swift to bless. Thank you for your unchanging faithfulness, mercy, and
love. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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