RESOLUTIONS

 

Are you someone who makes New Year resolutions?  If so, then you are not alone. In general, people like to take a look back over the past year and look to improve their lives.  It has been estimated that about 40 to 45% of American adults make one or more resolutions each year.  Some of the top resolutions are:  weight loss, exercise, stop smoking and better money management.  Some people also say that this will be the year they get closer to God. Unfortunately, most resolutions are broken shortly after they are made.

 

A New Year’s Resolution is a commitment or promise made to yourself to change in some manner for the better.  The tradition of making resolutions was started over 3,000 years ago by the ancient Babylonians, who made promises to the gods to be shown favor.  They believed if they broke the resolution, they would have bad luck.

 

Since we are followers of Jesus Christ and do not believe in the “gods of Babylon” or luck of any kind, should we concern ourselves with making resolutions?   2 Corinthians 3:18b states that we “are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  The Holy Spirit will change us into the likeness of Christ, if we only let Him.  God definitely wants us to be transformed into His likeness, but this can only happen through training our minds to focus on Christ and His Word.  Moreover, as we meditate on Him and His Word, He will begin molding us or making the changes in us for the better.

 

Therefore, the only resolution we need to make is to become more like Christ in every area of our lives.  However, since we already know that resolutions fail whether they are spiritual or not, maybe we shouldn’t make resolutions at all.  Remember there is no power in a New Year’s Resolution.  You must understand why you want to make those changes in the first place.  Is it to honor and glorify God or is it for some selfish reason.  Seek God first through prayer regarding anything you desire to change in your life and He will lead and guide you and give you the strength to accomplish His purpose and plans.  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13)