I meant to begin blogging again right after the new year started. Blogging regularly is one of my New Year’s resolutions. I am not good at resolutions.

Another one of my New Year’s resolutions is to read the Bible in 90 days. I even cheated at this resolution. (I hate cheating, but I know how few of my New Year’s resolutions ever come to fruition). I began reading in Leviticus, where I had left off reading in December, instead of Genesis. I figured this head start would help me finish reading it by April. As of today, I am two days behind.

Only one of my New Year’s resolutions have ever come true. Last year, after many years of refusing to even make a New Year’s resolution, I decided that I needed to work on my attitude. I made a resolution to be less bitter and more forgiving.

This resolution was hard to live by, especially for a person who remembers every bad thing that has ever happened to her. However, the Holy Spirit was at work in me. This was not a pie-in-the-sky dream to win the lottery or become a hand model. This was a decision to be more like the person God wants me to be, so I received the benefit of supernatural help.

One of the reasons my New Year’s resolutions were never successful was that they were so nebulous. Last year I learned that breaking down my goals into practical steps is the key to success. Here is how I broke my resolution down:

• Be Less Bitter
  • Forgive those who have hurt me
  • Pray for those who have hurt me
  • Do not judge people’s present actions based on past mistakes
• Be More Forgiving
  • Think the best of others
  • Do not make assumptions about others
  • Humbly remember how many times I have been forgiven

Through God’s grace, I released the burden of bitterness and put on the yoke of forgiveness. It’s much lighter, and I’m much happier.

This year my resolution may sound less lofty. However, I think it is the next step for me in my spiritual walk. My goal this year is to reach out to people. Here is how I am breaking it down:

• Reach Out to Others
  • Invite each family in my apartment building to dinner
  • Be on the lookout for ways to help others
  • Pray for my husband daily

Last year my theme was letting go. (Yes, Disney copied me.) This year my theme is thoughtfulness. I want to make an intentional effort to support and encourage those around me. (Also, I want to recreate the neighborly relations that I see on television shows from the 70’s.) Will you pray for me? What are your resolutions for 2015?