Resolute

Acts 11:23 AMP When he arrived and saw what grace God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy and continuously encouraged them to remain faithful, devoted to the Lord with resolute and steady purpose of heart.

It’s that time of year when we pause to look back over the past year, seeing all that God has done, and look forward to the new year with new challenges and opportunities to trust the Lord and see his marvelous works. It is also a time when many people make resolutions for the coming year—typically goals we desire to achieve or challenges we wish to overcome. But as redeemed, Spirit-filled children of God, we are called to a different type of resolution.

The word “resolution” comes from the root word “resolute,” which means to be determined, bold, and firm. God calls us to live a resolute life: steadfast in our devotion to His calling, with purpose and intentionality, even in the face of unexpected challenges. Ephesians 4:14 instructs us to “no longer be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind.” What a picture of our world today: tossed here and there, filled with fear and anxiety, influenced by everything that is seen and heard. God calls us to be firmly planted, rooted, and grounded in His love for us even in the face of uncertainty (Ephesians 3:17).

So, what does it mean to be steadfast, purposeful, and intentional? It begins with assessing what influences your life, thoughts, and actions. Being steadfast means to be free of outside influences. Proverbs 4:26 instructs us to “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” Where you go, how you spend your time, and what you watch: these all influence our ability to remain steadfast in our trust and commitment to the Lord and His ways. God gives each of us the gift of 86,400 seconds each day. How we use them will determine how steadfastly we live.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, be steadfast. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

To be purposeful is to be aligned with God’s plans and what moves his heart. Psalms 33:11 NIV states, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” We must choose each day whether we will live focused on our own desires, plans, and purposes or on the Lord’s. Proverbs 19:21 NIV, makes it clear which will have a lasting impact: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Intentionality comes from our daily choices. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it.” This life of selflessness does not happen by accident but is an intentional choice made every minute of every day.

May your resolution for this year be to become resolute in your faith, growing with His purpose in His calling on your life. Let’s make Colossians 2:6-7 our declaration for 2026: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Colossians 2:6-7 AMP/AMPC Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in union with Him, reflecting His character in everything you do and say—living lives that lead others to Him and away from sin. Have yourself firmly and deeply planted in Him, being continually built up and established in your faith, just as you were taught, continually abounding and overflowing with thanksgiving.

Psalm 51:10 AMP Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.

Joshua 1:7 NIV Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

Job 11:13-15 NLT If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer! Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

2 Timothy 1:9 NIV He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

Romans 12:10-12 NIV Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Ephesians 3:12 NLT Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

Joshua 23:6 NIV Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.

Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord , the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.