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

Answer

The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions dates back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. The beginning of a new year brings a sense of renewal and a fresh start. In reality, there is no significant difference between December 31 and January 1. There is no mystical event at midnight on December 31. The Bible neither endorses nor opposes the idea of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian chooses to make a New Year’s resolution, what type of resolution should they consider?

Typical New Year’s resolutions include commitments to quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, handle finances more responsibly, and dedicate more time to family. The most popular resolution by far is to lose weight, often accompanied by a commitment to exercise more and eat healthier. These are commendable objectives. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 reminds us to maintain a balanced perspective on physical exercise: “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 majority of New Year’s resolutions, even within the Christian community, tend to focus on physical matters. This should not be the case.

Many Christians set New Year’s resolutions to increase prayer, read the Bible daily, and attend church more regularly. These are admirable aspirations. Nevertheless, these spiritual resolutions often falter just like the non-spiritual ones, as the act of making a New Year’s resolution alone lacks power. Simply deciding to start or stop a particular activity is ineffective without the proper motivation for that change. For instance, why do you aim to read the Bible daily? Is it to honor God and nurture spiritual growth, or is it merely a habit to uphold?

Do you want to lose weight just because you heard it’s 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 states, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 proclaims, “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 focal point of your New Year’s resolution, it has a 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 with God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what kind of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”, (James 1:5) regarding what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom on how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will assist and encourage you; (5) don’t be disheartened by occasional failures; instead, let them 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.”