Reed Mueller

I like New Year’s resolutions. I like them because they afford me an opportunity to challenge myself in areas where I’m lagging and to grow in areas of strength. This is all good of course—unless I get it out of balance.

There is a danger in such resolutions because they can be entirely “me” focused. As in “I’m going to exercise more” or “I’m going to eat better” or “I’m going to go to Starbucks less often (yeah right).” So as you make resolutions, be sure to create relational resolutions as well.

My challenge here comes in two parts. First, make a resolution that you will work to create a better relationship with each of your immediate family members. For husbands and wives, perhaps work on how you cherish one another. Maybe you can carve out a date night a week or even a month that you will be faithful in keeping. This one thing can do wonders for a relationship. If that manner of cherishing is easy, then move on to a more difficult resolution by applying Peter’s thinking here:

Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9 (The Message)

So whether it is with your wife or husband, mother or father, sister or brother, or son or daughter, seek to be a blessing even when they are not! Do not retaliate, instead bless! In this, you’ll discover not only that you work a blessing into their life, but that you work a blessing, over time, into your life, too, as you become more like Christ and change the tone of your familial relationships for the better.

The second part of my challenge is also relational: resolve to enjoy God’s nearness to you in a deeper way. While it is true that God is the one who loves us and is always near to us (Ephesians 3:18-19; Acts 17:28), it is not always true that we appreciate and sense this love and presence.

This being the case, let me challenge you to resolve that you will seek to hear from this loving and very near God each and every day. Perhaps you could choose to set aside the first 15 minutes of your morning commute to pray by both sharing with God and by letting God share with you. Or perhaps you could purchase a CD or MP3 version of the Bible to listen to on your IPod or car stereo at some point each day. I’ve been listening to “The Bible Experience” lately and it has opened my ears to hear God speak to my heart in new ways. Or, if listening to God’s Word isn’t for you, perhaps you could choose to read a little bit each day. I’ll post some Bible reading plans on my blog soon that you could choose from to help you get started.

Whatever you do, be it commit to a prayer time or to hearing from God through his Word each day, resolve to benefit from his presence and so grow closer to him in the coming year! And as you do, as you seek His wisdom and understanding, he promises that you’ll grow to know Him more and that as you walk the path you’ve been given, you’ll walk it with rightness, justice and equity (Proverbs 2:1-5; Proverbs 2:9).

Blessings in your new year and in your resolutions to grow closer relationships!