TapTheForwardAssist , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.&

A common practice at the turn of a new year is New Year’s Resolutions. A new year is such a prominent marker for the passage of time and for major life changes. In some ways, it can feel like the start of a new job or school year or a new home; it’s a chance to be different, to be new, to be whoever we want to be. We can actually ask ourselves, "Who do I want to be?" We can resolve, "I’m going to be better, to be more fit, to be more focused and organized…" We open ourselves to the world of possibilities. For many people, however, these questions about what we could be and how we could be "better" or different are just the face of a deeper voice. Too often, "being better" is the phrase we use when we feel we're not already good enough. Many New Year's Resolutions are motivated by dissatisfaction or by our beliefs that others expect more from us. I'm reminded of the rich man who went to Jesus in Luke 18. He asked Jesus, "Wha