My New-Term's Resolution

We have been back in Niger for over a month now!  The time flies and it’s hard to believe how much we’ve been up to in less than 5 weeks.  That’s the thing that always gets me in blogging about my life in Niger.  Life here is absolutely packed with all kinds of things that happen to us or that might be interesting to write about, so... Which story to tell?  Which picture of all 2,000 that I took this month should I share?  If I let too much time go by, I start to get overwhelmed and give up writing all together.

 

BUT, hope springs eternal, right?!  With the beginning of a new term in Niger comes the hope that, once again, I could write and keep up better with what’s happening.  It’s like a New Year’s resolution.  January 1^st starts with fresh hope budding in the soul that this year, one could and WILL, “be faithful in ALL things, (for me) be an awesome wife, a loving mother who never speaks harshly to her precious little flock, a woman who keeps the house in ship-shape tidiness, a perfect missionary (whatever THAT is – hellllo-o?!), start that new exercise plan to really get in shape, read the Bible faithfully each and every day (maybe even all the way through it twice this year, even though I only made it to the Psalms last year)…”  The list goes on when looking at a New Year’s (or a New Term’s) list of resolutions.  Isn’t it funny how we do that?  Or maybe it’s just me!  Always looking for a fresh start to get the chance to do things perfectly THIS time! 

Oh, PERFECTION.  Definition: “the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.” (dictionary.com)

Hmmm…  That’s not what God’s looking for, is it?  He’s already told us in Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” He’s not looking for us to attain perfection.  He already knows that we don’t have it within ourselves to complete any resolution list we make for ourselves.    

Stirring from within me, I hear a still-small voice saying, “His mercies are new every morning.”  I think God knew we would never do anything perfectly on this earth.  Thus, He made sure we knew that He creates EACH DAY NEW with a fresh start – new mercies for the new day.  We don’t have to restart at the beginning of a New Year (or a new term in Niger) to get it right.  Each day, as we go to Him to seek fresh mercy and grace for that day, He gives us grace to do what He’s called us to do that day.  It’s not about being perfect.  It’s about daily seeking Him, knowing Him, and having Him lead us.  It’s about relationship.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. (Lam 3:21-26)

Just now, as I was sitting and pondering on what I demand of myself versus what He asks of me, I became aware of the children’s music playing in our living room.  The old song, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Amen. Amen.” was playing. (from Matt 6:33)

Jesus also said in this same passage as He talked about how much God cares for us and wants to provide for us, “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt 6:34)  God knows each day has its struggles!  He also gave us the key to facing them.  “Trust Me.  Know Me.  Seek Me.  Don’t worry about those other things.  I’ll take care of them.  I’ll take care of you.”

So what does this have to do with blogging?  Or being a missionary in Niger?  Or being a mom, or a wife, or a friend?  It means instead of striving to do anything in this life with perfection, which is my natural tendency, I want to go to God first, to seek love and purpose from Him, to take some time to read His word, sing a song to Him, and soak in knowing He loves me and can order the steps of my day.  Once I’ve given my day to Him, everything seems to fall into place.  I have grace to love my children and joy in loving my husband.  I have energy to do what I need to do in the house, and patience to homeschool my kids.  These are all fruits of the Spirit!  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Wow – those are all of the things I want to be!  All the things I tend to strive for in my own strength.  And yet, these are the things He freely gives when He pours out His Holy Spirit in our lives. 

Jesus said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit (and His fruit!) to those who ask Him!”  (Luke 11:13)

He’s waiting for us to ask.  He loves to give “The Helper” to those who are seeking help. (John 14 & 15)  I don’t know about you, but I need HELP to run this race well.

My New-Term’s Resolution is to throw out my resolution list and look to God for strength, grace, joy, and direction on a day-to-day basis.  To run the race He’s set before me, looking to Him, my Helper (Mai-Taimako in Hausa), to pour out His love into my heart.  As I think about that, I feel a weight lift off me.  I can do that.  I can look to Him.  I can go to Him.  One day at a time.  His grace is sufficient for me, and His strength is made perfect in weakness.

As I was finishing the last sentence of this blog entry, my 2 year-old stuck a pencil eraser up her nose.  I’m off to put this lesson into practice.  His mercies are new every morning!