Don’t Make Resolutions – Be Resolute!

Somehow, the beginning of every year always brings up the topic of New Year Resolutions.

When I was younger, it was literally expected of you to have them. If you didn’t have any to offer up when asked, you were often looked upon as some sort of loafer without ambition or direction in your life! Times have changed, but I still know people who spend significant amounts of time considering and praying to God for divine direction in this area. They want to ensure that things are firmly on their “new” TO-DO LIST as the New Year dawns.

Now, please don’t misinterpret my tone here. I am not trying to say that this is a waste of time. In fact, I think more people should spend some intentional time considering the plus and minus things that make up their day-to-day living.

Falling short is often easier and habitually continued when we never consider what we are partaking in.

There is a more horrible ‘rub’ that I am trying to bring to light here. If we believe those fine folks who churn out statistics, only a mere 20% of honestly considered and adopted resolutions make it past the end of January. Oh, and while we ponder that crushing detail, the same stats folks also note that only approximately 8% of people succeed in holding onto resolutions throughout an entire calendar year.

YIKES!!  

I am NOT a fan of those odds. And in the knowledge of these details, knowing the potential for failure, many folks now simply walk away from trying to change how they are, do things, and approach living.

Can’t really blame them. The cards ultimately seem horribly stacked against them.

Most articles that I’ve seen addressing this subject spend their time looking at why and how we fail as we create and try to hold onto resolutions. But they are always considering the concept through this lens of making resolutions.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes “resolution” this way:

Resolution(re-zə-ˈlü-shən)

The act or process of resolving – analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones – the act of answering – the act of determining – a formal expression of opinion, will or intent.

What strikes me right away in this explanation is that the word appears to be speaking to an indeterminate process. It is a search to work through to an end – but the specific path to travel is very dimly lit or laid out. This explains how people can get lost on this journey. Without the actual ground between beginning and end fully fleshed out, contemplated, and planned for – a huge potential exists for losing your forward momentum and ultimately abandoning a resolution.

Maybe this focus needs a freshen up!

Instead of looking through the lens of making resolutions – perhaps we need to turn our mind and spirit toward the concept of being resolute. Compare the Merriam-Webster description for this word and see if it doesn’t leave a different reaction in your heart:

RESOLUTE(re-zə-ˌlüt)

Marked by firm determination

Hmmmmmmmmmm…

So here is where I ask you to consider taking a different step with me as we move into 2022. Start by considering some core facts about your life and how you are living. How is your relationship with Jesus? Is He at the centre of all you are and all you do? Is the thought of obedience to Him and following His desires for you consuming you at every turn? Do you see yourself constantly being prodded by Holy Spirit to be MORE like Jesus every single day?

If you were able to answer with an emphatic YES to those queries – good for you. But maybe some of your answers were not feeling solid in their outlook. There is no better time than now to stiffen and stand firm in your determination to proceed exactly as He calls.

We are desired…

We are required…

Don’t spend time waiting for something to “resolve” while you analyze, or determine, or try to form your opinion to be able to move forward.

Be marked, even set apart, by firm determination in all that is Jesus.

“Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!”-Psalm 51:10 (NET).