My Resolution for this New Year
Written by Ron Retherford
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 16:13
My Resolution for this New Year



As I write this Blog, I am still recovering from rotator cuff surgery. I've
been surprised by the length of time required for recovery. This has
certainly renewed my awareness of the precious blessing of health that God
has granted me throughout my life time. I had not realized that the surgeon
would literally reconstruct my entire shoulder. Nor had I understood the
duration of my recovery.

When my plan to return to work was delayed by additional health concerns,
the Psalmist's plea to "wait on the Lord" (Psalm 40) also became my prayer.
But I'm still not back to work! Fortunately, our capable staff and our new
Associate Pastor Janet Hartzel joined Pastor Chuck and our leaders to carry
on the work of the church. I'm very grateful for their dedication and for
the way so many have stepped up to help out.

We all know that God answers our prayers. Many of my friends, family, and
church members have been praying for my healing and return to ministry. But
when what we pray for doesn't happen, what are we to think? I wondered where
the high level of energy I'd enjoyed had gone? I had moments when I wondered
of God was listening, or if I wasn't praying right. My body (and maybe God?)
must have a different plan that what I was praying for.

An online devotional that I receive from the First United
Methodist Church in Green Bay addressed this issue with great insight.
Founder and author Rev. Dave Wilkinson quotes a story by John Ortberg's
book, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat")

"An economist asked 'Lord, is it true that a thousand years for us is like a
minute to you?'

The Lord answered, 'Yes.'

'Then a million dollars to us must just be a penny to you.'

'Yes.'


'Lord, would you give me one of those pennies?'

'Alright. Wait here a minute.'

I agree with Wilkinson as he continues, 'Too often we want God's
resources, but we do not want God's timing. We want the penny, but not the
minute. We forget that God's work in us while we wait is as important as
what it is we think we are waiting for. Waiting means that we give God the
benefit of the doubt that He knows what He is doing. (Sound Bites #2436
12/10/2009)

My New Year's resolution is to be more diligent in "Waiting upon the Lord"
rather than assuming I know more than God knows by insisting or even
demanding my will, not God's will be done. I am resolved in this New Year to
follow Jesus' example as he traveled the hard road of faithfulness on the
cross at Calvary when he said, "thy will, not my will be done." I invite you
to join me in following the demanding road of faithfulness in this New Year
allowing God to guide us into a deeper, more profound, and far more patient
journey through this New Year as we join the Psalmist in "waiting on the
Lord as the Lord inclines unto us."

May God bless you and yours and ours as we more patiently trust God to do
what God intends to do in us and through us as we grow in patience,
faithfulness, insight, and understanding in this New Year!
Powered by MMS Blog