Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Year of Sticking With It


The title of this post isn't terribly spiritual-sounding, but it's really what I hope to do in many ways, some simple things, some deeper that no one else may ever even know. It's a new year offering (another) new start. Praise God His mercies are new every morning!

One of the simpler (but evasive to me) things I plan to stick with is scripture memorization. It was so powerful when I maintained that practice faithfully in the past, so I have no idea why I let it slip. I remember a quote from a Beth Moore study about Satan using fatigue and discouragement to keep us from fighting back with power... well, no more! (Okay, yes, I'm sure I'll face fatigue and discouragement, but I hope not to let it keep me from fighting effectively in the battle!)

Below is the first verse of 24 I hope to memorize this year, along with reading through the Bible--both goals I've attempted and failed repeatedly. By God's grace, this will be the year of completion!

It is for freedom
that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves
be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV

So Christ has truly set us free.
Now make sure that you stay free,
and don’t get tied up again
in slavery to the law.
Galatians 5:1 NLT