Issue 58 ~ January 2008 Christian New Year's Resolutions

Christian Solutions to New Year's Resolutions

While I couldn't find any Biblical evidence in support of or against the idea of New Year's Resolutions I did have some personal thoughts on the matter.

Some common examples of New Years Resolutions

1. Lose Weight

2. Quit Drinking

3. Quit Smoking

4. Spend more time with Family & Friends

5. Reduce Debt

6. Enjoy life more

7. Learn something new

8. Help Others - Serve More

9. Get better organized

10. Travel to a specific destination

Some statistics on New Year's Resolutions

• Over half of the people who make resolutions will fail in the first four months of the new year.

• Over 90% of Resolutions will not be kept by year's end.

• The first resolution to fail is dieting, perhaps because of the necessary change in mindset and the level of commitment to successfully see it through.

Many Christians make resolutions too.  Among the top New Year's resolutions for Christians

1. Lose Weight / Diet & Exercise

2. Quit Drinking and/or Smoking (eliminate bad habits)

3. Spend more time with Family & Friends

4. Read the Bible more / Better church attendance

5. Reduce Debt

6. Enjoy life more

7. Memorize scriptures

8. Help Others - Serve More

9. Get better organized

10. Travel to a specific destination

Yet, strangely enough, Christian resolutions fail at nearly the same rate as the rest of the resolutions.

Why? Because the resolutions are made with wrong motivations and are begun under our own power. All of these goals listed above are worthwhile and honorable IF we have the proper motivation.

As Christians we should think seriously about our motives for any of the resolutions we are making for the New Year.

Why? Because many of them could be self serving and if our motives are not right - how can we expect right results?

Take a look at a few of these resolutions and ask yourself about your motives.

Weight Loss:

Why do you want to lose weight? Be truthful with yourself here. Is it to take better care of the temple you live in? Or is it personal vanity that is motivating your desire.

1 Timothy 4:8 says, "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."

Read the Bible more ~ Better church attendance:

Why do you want to read the Bible more or do better in attending church? Is it because you heard it was good to do these things? Is it because you feel obligated from a place of shame? Or is it because you desire to do what is good and pleasing to the Lord by presenting yourself a living sacrifice and a desire to grow closer in your walk with Him?

The resolution solution

Confused? I hope not. My point is simply this:

As Christians we should stop relying on our own understanding and acknowledge our Father ahead of our choices.

Proverbs 3:5,6 reads; "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Ask for wisdom! James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

Understand our inability to start, let alone maintain, any tasks/plans without Him. John 15:5 tells us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

Trust Him to help us through the tasks He has ordained - no matter how daunting they seem. One of my wife's favorite promises is Philippians 4:13, which assures us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." And Psalm 37:5,6 tells us, "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass."

Do you want to achieve the goals that God has ordained in your life?

Set your personal wish-list aside and pray to the Lord for wisdom in regards to what changes He desires for your life in the coming days, weeks and months.

Pray for the wisdom to fulfill the goals God ordains for you.

Seek to be less self reliant and strive to depend on God’s strength to help you achieve the goals He has ordained for you.

Seek to find a brother or sister in Christ that would be willing to make the commitment to be an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you.

Understand, ahead of time, that the enemy will do his best to  discourage you and muddle your thinking. Don’t become discouraged with occasional set-backs. Don't see them as failures, but instead see them as challenges to your faith & faithfulness and use them to motivate you and help you refocus on His goals for you.

And, if you should see great successes along the way; don’t become proud or vain, instead give God the praise and the glory for the work He has accomplished in your life.

What are you waiting for? The lines are open :)

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