Resolve to Live a Godly Life

Post written by Raymund Tamayo

Photo credit: secure.crackpot.org

It’s the beginning of another year and people are psychologically triggered to make New Year’s resolutions. If you ask me, I’d rather create good habits one at a time, and put off old bad habits to start the year. 

I’d also rather take you to the book of Psalm chapter 101:2 where the psalmist King David said “I will be careful to lead a blameless life – when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.”

Usually, people make resolutions for self-betterment or self-improvement. Perhaps one is resolved to lose weight, or to exercise more, or to spend more time with family. Or some may be resolved to deal with the difficulties in their marriage, or fight poverty, or improve other people’s lives. Make no mistake, all these endeavors are noble and worthy to be done.

But my point is, as children of God, we must first and foremost resolve to live a godly life – to renew our desire to grow in holiness, righteousness, and obedience to our Almighty Father – before we aspire to achieve anything else.

An example of this, as I’ve mentioned, was in Psalm 101:2, where King David made a fundamentally different resolution than what you will find being made in the world today. This resolution was not centered only on self-development, but was primarily centered on his life as he stood before God. David was not looking to merely improve his esteem from the eyes of men or his own self-esteem, but he was concerned about the eye of God who would judge his heart.

In the passage, you can notice that King David feels the weight upon his heart, the decision to live in the presence of his family in a godly way. He is very concerned about his conduct both publicly, as the reigning king of Israel, and privately, as he lives in the sight of his family. God's glory is his desire. And he understands that his actions and his deeds are important as he stands as the king of Israel and as a father and husband of his own house. He says, “I will be careful to lead a blameless life – when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.”

The authenticity of our Christian witness and godly lives begin in the home, as seen by those closest to us.

This resolution does not come from human strength or sheer willpower. It arises from a heart filled with the Holy Spirit. Out of our relationship with Jesus Christ, given to us in our hearts, comes this determination to lead a godly life, for His glory, honor, and praise.

Is this your desire, not just for the year, but for every day of your life? To live a godly life, publicly and privately?

May God give us the resolve today and every day to live a godly life, righteous before His sight – starting with our own homes and families.