Overcoming Comndemnation

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."

-2 Thessalonians 3:3

Do you struggle with New Year’s resolutions?

According to a study done by Columbia University, over 90% of New Year’s resolution goals fail. It’s easy to feel apathetic about making goals for the new year when evidence suggests, and our own conscience reminds us, we’re probably going to fail the goals we set.

But as I think about it, feeling like a failure before we even begin sounds like a mindset the Deceiver, Satan, would want us to have, doesn’t it?

i’m reminded of the quote from Martin Luther,

“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: "I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!”

It might feel a little dramatic to apply this to our New Year’s resolutions, but I find the devil uses every opportunity to distract us from our identity in Christ.

Here are three applications from this truth as we consider the New Year:

• The good we do will never be lost (Matthew 6:19-21)
• Our failures will not define us (Isaiah 1:18)
• We can confidently pursue God, love others, and identify growth areas without fear of failure because of our posture of worship rather than justification (1 Corinthians 10:31)

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

-Zephaniah 3:17