james 1: 19-26

resolutions.

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

so, if i'm honest i have been putting off this section. sorry. it's not because i didn't like it, but that it's something i struggle with and is pretty self explanatory. i'm a big fan of new years resolutions. not sure why. i think there is something exciting about the beginning of a whole new year. and so every year i like to come up with a few things that i want to do, be, or become during the upcoming year. the more i thought about this verse, the more it seemed like a great new years resolution. so i decided to put what james said in this section into my new years resolution, cliff notes version...

#1. be quick to listen
#2. slow to speak
#3. slow to become angry
#4. don't merely listen to the word, but DO what it says... like looking after orphans and widows and keeping oneself form being polluted by the world.

i know i'm oversimplifying what james is saying in this verse, but this is what i sincerely want to pursue this year. and if i could live this out, well that would be a pretty incredible year. sorry this entry is short and sweet, hope you have a good year.