We can’t quit and lose heart. There are victories ahead well worth pushing forward to attain.

Ahh,  New Year’s resolutions!

Get in shape, lose weight, join a gym, pay for three months, and after three months you realize you’ve only gone twice!

Eat less, lose 10 pounds by the end of February. Two weeks later, re-negotiate with yourself and set new goal of losing 2 pounds by summer.

I could easily write more stories of failure because this is as much my history as it is for many of you.

We’re motivated initially, even writing down our desires; then put our goals in a drawer and our resolve fades away like cheap cologne.

Does God get a kick out of our relentless pursuit of goals we haven’t really owned – just contemplated briefly and then moved on? I don’t think He’s pleased with how easily our goals and aspirations are flirted with and then quietly ignored.

The word “keep” can be found hundreds of times in Scripture. It’s an important word in God’s vocabulary. I’d like us to study this word for the next series of Fresh Heart devotionals. We deserve to know how important it is to God for us to ‘keep doing’ some vital, spiritually enriching habits as we move from ‘newbie’ to mature follower of Christ.

What God has said He will do for us, He will keep doing it.

“I will keep you in perfect peace” He promises. But then He expects us to keep our minds on Him and trust Him. Isaiah 26:3,4 NKJV

Now consider this: “The Lord… will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV  Never stop to ask where God is. He hasn’t gone anywhere!

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Psalm 73:26 NLT  When your strength fails, look to Him. He promises to be your strength! 

“If my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land” II Chron 7:14 TLB  If you call, He will pick up the phone. He’s got your back! 

We cannot afford to slack off on our intentions of moving into all God has waiting for us. This could be the year to ‘keep on keeping on’. Let’s go for it!

See you next week as we discover what God wants us to ‘keep doing.’