I Have Made Up My MInd

I have made up my mind: this earth is not my home
Tho’ over all its hills and dales I roam,
And wonder at the beauty of its dome;
I seek a sweeter, nobler heav’n to find.

I have made up my mind: this world is far from worth
Its temporary thrill and pointless mirth,
A nature unlike He who gave it birth;
And so I cast it off, no longer mine.

I have made up my mind: no longer will I go
To seek for pleasure where it’s just for show,
Where truth is sought, but falsehood answers, ‘No!’
But earnestly will strive true joy to find.

I have made up my mind: he is no friend of mine
Who at the point of suff’ring draws the line,
Who chooses just to bide away his time;
Because he feels, without Christ, he is fine.

I have made up my mind – there is no turning back:
By faith I know my God’s forgiv’n my lack,
And promised still to fight each strong attack;
He who is so longsuff’ring, good, and kind.

I have made up my mind (much more than all the rest)
That in surrendering I will invest,
Instead of trying much and gaining less;
For Christ has simply said, “I am the vine’.

I have made up my mind to carry through this cross
Regardless of the pain or what it costs,
Despite the certain loneliness and loss;
For Jesus paid the price for all mankind,

And so, for Jesus’ sake, I make it mine,
And in His strength alone make up my mind.

As the world takes advantage of the New Year, making firm resolves to do good, let us seek to do the same. Let us strive to gain and grow, both physically and spiritually, not through written or oral resolutions; not through heroic effort on our part, but in surrendering to our greatest Helper. No resolve of ours can last so long as we try to fulfill it. It is with God that all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Commonly we pray, ‘Lord, help me to be/do good,’ but we by nature can do only evil. Then our petition should not be for help in completing the task, but rather a plea for deliverance from the perplexing responsibility of doing what is not in our power to accomplish. Lord, I surrender my independent nature, desirous of trying to do what I cannot. Take my heart, Lord, and do in and through me what will best honor and glorify your precious name. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For he that is entered into his {God’s} rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:10

May God continue to teach us how to surrender our wills to His abundant strength in the coming year that we may completely enter into His rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Happy 2016!!

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27