IT'S NOT IN MY POWER

AnnV. inspired me a few days ago to think about having a verse for the year. As I thought and prayed about it one theme kept coming up - faithfulness and perseverance. I am notorious for starting things and not finishing them. If you graphed my diligence and stick-to-it-tiveness it would look like these rolling hills . There are several things I'd like to do this year. One is to get more fit. My husband and I bought ourselves a membership to the local YMCA and a piece of exercise equipment. I would also like to be more flyladyish and stick to a homeschool schedule. Don't even remind me of the many books I haven't finished. Maybe that will be a different post where I list my unfinished books and then I can be held accountable in some way for finishing them.

Anyway, over the past few days a couple verses have stuck out to me as I've thought about these different goals and how I probably won't stick to them.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it..." Psalm 127:1a

So often I am deluded into thinking that I'm really in control of certain things like schedules, children's behavior, etc. Thankfully, God reminds me often that I'm not. Setting my mind on this verse and implanting it on my heart this year will remind me that He is the one in control and when I allow Him to be in control the results will also mean more glory to Him and not as many feelings of pride.

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6

This is a further reminder of how I cannot do anything in my own strength. I don't want to. In Ephesians chapter 1 Paul prays that their eyes would be open to know the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. I want to call on that power, not rely on my own puny, sin-stained resources.

How about you? What do you hope to accomplish this year?