“What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make?

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 7003 Location: USA

The practice of making a New Year’s Resolution goes back over 3000 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 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of a New Year’s Resolution. 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 are: to quit smoking, to quit drinking, to manage money better, and 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 healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “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.” The vast majority of New Year’s Resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s Resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, to attend church more regularly, etc., etc. These are fantastic goals! However, these New Year’s Resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions. Why? 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.

So, what sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make? I cannot answer that question for you. My advice to you is this: (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. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

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lone-traveler · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:02 am Post subject:

Thanks Rev,
That was great.. Very Happy

Mark and I are quitting smoking. We talked, we agreed..that's two agreeing...that's a good thing.. Very Happy

Hard to lose the wight thing out here on the road. They like to fatten you up in the truck stops..LOL..so we got a frigerator and a micro and put them in the truck. runs of an inverter...now exercise hmm..that is tough.
I get back home I'm going to start working on my garden, that should help.
That's the physical...

Spiritually...try to be a lot less grumpy..smile more..and not be so cynical. think more positive, and try to keep shining even when it gets real dark.
God is with me all the time. Don't know if I can study anymore than I am already..lol..about 20 hours a day...

My favorite time of year..Spring..and I'm looking forward to it.. Very Happy

God Bless JP
Lone
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Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Iwonderif · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject:

I smiled at myself when I read your post because I made a resolution this year to stop using the Lord's name in vain - You know - one of those 10 commandments. No more G Damns, JC's or Good God's carelessly said in every day conversations. I have asked my husband and kids to call me on it every time they hear it slip out of my mouth. And every time I carelessly use God's name, I add 25 cents to a kitty- the money to be given to a charity at the end of the month. So far there is a buck fifty in the kitty. I hope to stop being thoughtless when using His name. . . to remind myself of the power of His name, and of course, because it is one of His commandments. Smile

Silver Surfer

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 7003 Location: USA

That opinion is completely unscriptural SS. We are commanded to spread the Gospel of Christ and to make disciples. Nothing in scripture commands us to warn of the anti-christ or any other such nonsense as you assert.
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theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

i had a dream once that JESUS was keeping me from taking over the world...

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

but you know man...it's like...'what does it profit a man?'...

Silver Surfer · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:34 am Post subject:

Zathrus · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject:

I'd consider warning the world about the antichrist, if we could figure out who he is and really be sure of it. #LOL

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Silver Surfer · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:45 am Post subject: