By Kristen Entwistle

We’re about two weeks into the new year, and it’s about time for those resolutions to start slipping.

Gyms become emptier.
Chips and cookies start appearing on the counter again.
Bibles lie closed, collecting dust.
Pews are empty at the back of the church.

No matter what resolutions you made – be it to eat healthier, read your Bible more, exercise more – you’re going to fail.  You’ll eat a cookie.  You’ll miss your reading plan one morning.  You’ll work too late to go the gym.  You can either let these failures hold you down, or you can get back up and try again.  But even more than that, I want you to ask yourself today why you made the resolutions that you did.

Was it to be skinnier, to fit into your old jeans, or to be a better person on the outside?  Was it to prove to someone else that you can do it on your own, or to improve others’ opinions of you?

I’m not saying that any of those reasons are wrong, or that some of them (read: all of them) haven’t crossed my mind in these last few weeks.

 Why do I want to improve others’ opinions of myself?
Because I’m finding my identity in their approval rather than in Christ.

Why do I want to be skinnier?
Because I’m finding my identity in the mirror rather than through the eyes of my Savior.

Why do I want to prove that I can do it on my own?  
Because I’m trying to prove that I don’t need God.

I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in my identity crisis.  And believe it or not, I have a way out – and I’m hoping to gain something from it, too.  And I’m wondering if you’ll join me.

You see, what I need more than anything right now is wisdom.  The wisdom to know when to shut up and when to speak up.  The wisdom to know when enough is enough, and when to say no.  The wisdom to know how to live out the Gospel.  The wisdom to know when to tough it out and when to back out.  The wisdom to learn loving like Jesus, living like Jesus, and dying like Jesus.

So this year, I’m going to do an audio series through the book of Proverbs – one of the books of wisdom in the Bible – one chapter, every Wednesday.  If you’re counting with me, that means we’ll be in the book of Proverbs (and other books along the way) until the middle of August.  Yup.  Maybe you can listen in while you’re washing the dishes or while you’re vacuuming the living room.  Or maybe while you’re driving to work or playing with the kids.

What I want more than anything from this study is to learn wisdom while sitting at the feet of Jesus.  Won’t you consider joining me?