Psalm 115

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.” – Psalm 115:1 (ESV)

This year, I’ll do better. This year, I’ll be more diligent in my studies. This time I won’t put my work down to the last minute.

Sounds familiar? We've all tried (and failed) to stick to our resolutions. We make them at the beginning of the year because we've reflected on how poorly we may have done in the previous year. So we make plans to wash the stain of the past year with renewed (and maybe premature, too) determination to be better people by our own effort so that in the end, we can proudly say that I did this because of me. While it is tempting, we end up forgetting who the focus of our year – our everyday lives, really – should be. Our year shouldn't be so that WE could shine and be the stars of our lives. We should remind ourselves that from the moment we've accepted Jesus into our lives, we've basically accepted that we’re never going to bring glory to ourselves. And if anyone be glorified, it should be Him.

Not to us, dear God, but to You be the glory. May our eyes always shift towards You. May we learn to love who You love. May we commit to faithfully obeying You. Humble our hearts, break us if You have to. Use us as a vessel, Lord, that Your majesty may shine through us. In Christ's name, Amen.