The new year is upon us and as usual I’m sure there are many people writing out their resolutions for the new year.
Or if you’re like me, you’re writing a blog post about how much you dislike new year’s resolutions.
I’ve never been one to care much for new year’s resolutions. I’m pretty sure that I’ve never actually made one…at least not since I was 10 or younger. They’ve just never seemed to make much sense to me.
I mean, I get the theory behind them. It’s a new year and a fresh start. We have the chance to better ourselves and our lives this coming year. All it takes is a little examination of the year that’s gone by to determine what we want to change about ourselves.
The Better Health Resolution
Some of the most common resolutions are those related to health and well being. Most are related to weight loss alone. Others include quitting smoking, drinking less caffeine or signing up for a gym membership. These are all great things to do. But do we really need to schedule these things?
Last year I realized that I needed to lose weight and get healthy. With the help of an amazing book I learned how to eat on the right schedule with the right foods. I also learned how to exercise again. Since then I’ve lost about 33 pounds and I feel better all the time.
I didn’t make a new year’s resolution. It was actually late Spring / early Summer when I started getting healthy. If you realize a serious lifestyle change needs to happen then just do it. Don’t wait a year, a month or even a week. It’s not easy and you will probably struggle and even fail at times. But if you do then simply start over and keep going.
Wouldn’t it be better to just make those healthy choices as soon as you realize they need to be made?
The Spiritual Resolution
Another type of new year’s resolution that I’ve seen are spiritual resolutions. Our life in Christ is the most important thing to us as Christians. Of course, being in Christ is our position and abiding in Christ is an action that continually happens. We don’t abide in Him in order to be accepted by God. Rather, abiding in Christ is something that happens as a result of our position and acceptance that we already have in Him.
Because our oneness with Christ is so important many make resolutions for the new year in an attempt to be a “better Christian.” I understand the heart behind this but something there just doesn’t sit well with me.
I suppose the most common actions would be resolving to read the Bible more, pray more and go to church more. What happens is that these resolutions become a law and when we fail or slip up we feel condemnation, which is not from God.
Yes, reading the Bible, praying and gathering with the Body is extremely important. However we can’t try to to do these things in our own power just because it’s what “good Christians” do. If you have had a glimpse of Jesus Christ and His eternal purpose then your love for Him will come naturally and as a result you will read more and you will talk about Him with other believes more often. Seek Christ now. Don’t create a list of things you need to do to make that happen. Don’t wait another minute.
I guess what I’m getting at is realizing positive changes need to made in your life is a good thing. But when we realize these things we should work to change them right then and there. It’s easy to put a lot of stock into a new year’s resolution but then end up feeling like a huge failure and giving up altogether if we slip up and break the “law” that we created for ourselves.
I don’t make new year’s resolutions and I’m sure I never will.
I hope you guys have a great new year. I hope that it does bring great things like better health and new closeness with and revelation of Christ and God’s eternal purpose.
What has your experience with new year’s resolutions been? I’d love to hear your story in the comments below.
