Happy new year! I hope this finds you with a heart full of what fills you best!

Isn’t it interesting how what fills and fulfills each one of us can vary so much?

I’m married to an energetic, enthusiastic extrovert. I joke that I’ve been “chasing” Jeff, trying to keep up with him for over thirty years. (When we first married, my dad nicknamed him Tigger.) Jeff wakes up ready to dress, eat, and hit the road!

On the other hand, I wake up and drink my coffee as slow as possible, get dressed as late as possible, and stay home as much as possible. And our six children run the gamut. It amazes me how people with so much in common have such different ideas of what makes a great day . . . or year.

I’ve been thinking about how varied our approaches are to the new year. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have read my encouragement to slow down, leave the tree up, and just enjoy the season. I’m a firm believer in all twelve days of Christmas and have been known to leave our almost needle-less tree up well into the new year.

But I know as passionate as I might be, slow is not everyone’s roll. I don’t understand, but I know some of you just can’t wait for a new year, new planner, and all the resolutions.

Whether you’re like me and you’re still clinging to Christmas. Or your decorations are packed away, your resolutions printed and posted, and your new planner already broken in, I have something I hope will encourage you as we each enter the new year in our own way.

5 Days of Imperfect Resolutions: A Devotional for Imperfect Woman

*5 Days of Imperfect Resolutions aren’t your normal New Year resolutions. They’re resolutions that are made in full consideration of life’s inevitable challenges and realities. And in case you’re already feeling a little overwhelmed here at the starting line of 2019, I think you’ll find these resolutions more encouraging than burdensome.

Over the next five days, I’ll be posting a daily devotional here. But I’d love to give you a printable copy!

If you’re already a subscriber to Winsome Living, watch your inbox. Your copy is on the way! If you’re not yet, you can go HERE to subscribe and I’ll send it to you!

It’s already January 2 (like I said, these are imperfect resolutions), so let’s get started!

 

Day 1

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
~ Philippians 1:6

Hello, friend! Thank you so much for joining me for 5 Days of Imperfect Resolutions, inspired by my book An Imperfect Woman: Letting Go of the Need to Have It All Together.

I’d like to let you in on a secret right here at the beginning: I’m her. And I’m still learning how to let go of that relentless need to have it all together.

I’m guessing you can relate, and that’s why you’re here. Isn’t it nice to know you’re not alone? There’s power in community, and my hope and prayer is that as we acknowledge and even embrace our imperfection, together we will discover a sweet and precious place where our perfect God meets our imperfect lives. A place of great peace, grace, and security.

You’re likely reading this somewhere close to January 1. That infamous day that keeps us up late and catapults us into the next three hundred sixty-five with ambitions, dreams, and yes, resolutions. Ahhh, the new year.

Now, I’m not against resolutions. Not at all. In fact, I’ve made some pretty impressive ones over my near half-century of new years. I’m quite good at writing down my new year’s resolutions. I’m just bad at keeping them.

For a week, maybe two, they inspire me to greatness . . . or maybe less sugar, more exercise, earlier rising, more intentional reading, etc. But then they start to morph around week three or so. No longer do I feel inspired, but I begin to feel weighed down by my resolutions. And I know what inevitably lies ahead of me. I either choose to put my resolution down now or wait for it to make me stumble and experience the frustration and disappointment of yet another year’s failed resolutions. What a way to start the year.

I’ve been thinking: What would it look like to walk into our new year—or new month, week, or day—with a resolve that acknowledges our imperfections and focuses on our perfect God, his promises, and all the joy, peace, and security we might find in him? I have a feeling February, March, April, and all the months, weeks, and days would look a lot better!

Instead of starting out our year with ideals that have gone into hyperdrive just to find January’s resolutions lost under a pile of February reality, I want to invite you to join me in making some Imperfect Resolutions—resolutions made in consideration of our imperfection and in light of the knowledge of our constant need for grace. If you happen to be reading this in February or July or October, I’ve got good news . . . these resolutions are good any time of year!

Let’s start here!

I resolve to focus more on my perfect God
than on my imperfect life.

Your turn . . .

Make a list of two or three traits and/or promises of God that are especially meaningful to you. For example, I love the verse that tells us God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).

Spend some time reflecting on these traits or promises every day for the next week, and see how focusing on God’s perfection changes your perspective and brings peace.

 

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another imperfect resolution and encouragement for your day and new year!

*If you preordered An Imperfect Woman last year (I can’t believe it’s already been a year!), you’ll recognize this as one of the bonuses you received. I think you’ll still be encouraged!

 

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