Psalm 119:73 says, "Thy hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments."
The two parts of that sentence seem to be an odd pairing when initially read (at least to this reader), but as I thought about it, this meaning came to mind: As God gives me understanding of myself I begin to understand why I react to life and situations the way I do. Why I react wrongly. Why certain situations cause me pain. Why certain situations bring out the worst in me. These are the times I may find myself falling into sin without honestly wanting to fall into sin.
This could be what Paul means when he writes in Romans 7:15, "For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."
When God gives me understanding of what is behind my behavior, the root of it, I, along with God's strength, can yank that root out of my soul and be free of it.
When we don't understand ourselves, we can't discern these noxious roots.
Through understanding, when we are free of them, we become more and more the people God created us to be.
This is one of the things Paul is talking about when he writes in Philippians 1:6, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in your will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Psalm 138:8a says, "The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;"
That "me" is you. That "me" is me. That "me" is everyone who turns to God and seeks Him.
This year think about seeking God daily in all you do. Let Him give you understanding of Himself, of others, of life, of yourself. Your life will be richer and filled with freedom and peace. What a year God has planned for us all!