What sort of New Year’s Resolution should You make this year?

The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if you determine to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should you make?

Our plans may or may not be God’s plans. If we want to be successful with any New Year’s resolution, we must seek God’s will first. With his strength we might lose weight, eat better, or even become better stewards of our finances. What does God want for our lives? When he convicts, he also equips us to follow through with his plan. When we know we are following his plan, not ours, then we have more strength to stick to it. It allows God to work with us way before our usual January 3rd quitting time.

However, we must ask ourselves. Why do we only make resolutions about weight, exercise, and money?

God would be honored if we made spiritual resolutions also. How about resolving to reading a scripture from the Bible every day, getting involved with your ministry at your church, share your faith with your friends, then make a step of faith so big that only God can make it happen. Resolve to represent in your life that everyone can see it no matter what the cost.

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”. If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should we make? Here are some suggestions:

(1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any,      he would have you make.

 (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you.

 (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you.

 (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you.

 (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to             motivate you further.

 (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory.

“Let’s then go out to Him and resolve to bear the insult and abuse that he endured.”  Hebrews 13:13 

Signing off for this year...Debbie from Care Placement Service in Westminster, Colorado