New Year New Me?

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. (1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT)

I have been writing this blog for over six weeks and have yet to publish anything but not for lack of trying. First came sickness then came Christmas, birthdays, New Years and much more. It got me to thinking about the intentional way we live our lives each day. I have to be honest that despite being a super organised, neat freak, I fly by the seat of my pants, as the saying goes. Instead of living each day with purpose I take each day as it comes and go with the flow usually taking the laziest option. 

I found this text in Corinthians and while of course the extended text is fascinating and insightful and life changing this sentence caught me by surprise.

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. (1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT)

Today I want to run with purpose. I want each step I take to not to be just shadowboxing but in the ring for real. I want to actually walk head on into life with Holy Spirit guiding my steps and moving me forward. I am not a fan of New Years resolutions but I am a fan of assessing the year on your birthday and decide to do better next year. So as my birthday approaches I am decided that I must do better and run with purpose in every step!

Responsibility

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. (James 1:13, 14 NLT)

I was just tweeting this verse because I thought it was challenging. When it occurred to me I should say something about it also. For many people it is easier to blame God or others when they make poor choices but what if you actually had to take responsibility for your own actions. How different would the world be if people actually took responsibility for their own actions? How different would we behave if we could no longer blame drink or someone else for our own choices? Would you make the same choices if you knew it would all be on you? I think if actually I had to honestly take responsibility for everything I might think twice!