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 a Christian determines to make a New Year’s
resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?
Common New Year’s
resolutions
Common New Year’s
resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money
more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New
Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and
eating more healthily. These are all good goals to set.
However, 1 Timothy
4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of
some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both
the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s
resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This
should not be.
Do you have the
proper motivation?
Many Christians
make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to
attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New
Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because
there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing
a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for
stopping or starting that activity.
For example, why do
you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually,
or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you
want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to
honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13
tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5
declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in
him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
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.
Recommended New
Year Resolutions for Christians
1. Pray to the Lord
for wisdom 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.
Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he
will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice
of your cause like the noonday sun.”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.
