Keys to making New Year resolutions you’ll keep …

It’s about this time of year you’ll see a few posts on social media from some people who boast they don’t make New Year resolutions.

There’s nothing wrong with not making resolutions, but you might be missing out by not doing so. If you’re the kind of person who refuses to exercise self-discipline and actually do what you say you will do, you shouldn’t make New Year resolutions because it will only be an act of futility.

BUT, if you are a person capable of exercising self-discipline (we all are, check out 2 Tim. 1:7), and will make sure to do what you say you will do, then I not only endorse the concept of making New Year resolutions, but I also encourage you to do so.

That’s because of what a “resolution” actually is.

What is a resolution?

A resolution is simply to resolve to do something.

Do each of us have things we NEED to earnestly resolve to do? Absolutely! The only excuse I’ve heard against making resolutions is that people don’t keep them. If you cannot trust yourself to do what you resolve to do, you have a character problem most likely rooted in a sin problem.

The truth is, each year millions of people make what they call “resolutions” for the New Year, and most fail to achieve the majority of them. But for those who actually achieve what they set out to do, it can be life-changing, or at least very rewarding. You can be one of those people!

So, if you’re going to make any resolutions for 2021, let me share with a few keys to helping you set resolutions you’ll be more likely to achieve:

First, start with prayer. Have a conversation — or conversations — with God about what you would like to accomplish in the coming year. Ask Him what He would like you to do in the New Year. Seek His guidance and wisdom, and listen to His direction.

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail,”‭‭ Proverbs‬ ‭19:21‬.

Second, only set resolutions that you’re fully committed to doing whatever it takes to turn into reality. We can be quite skilled at lying to ourselves, but we know when we’re being self-honest and when we’re not. If you’re really willing to pay whatever the price is to turn your resolutions into realities, then commit yourself to them and get to it!

Third, make a resolution, not a wish. For example, if you’re thinking about making that ages-old resolution to lose weight, understand that the resolution isn’t, “I want to lose weight this year” — that’s a wish. A resolution has specificity like this: “In 2021, I resolve to adopt a new healthy lifestyle that includes changing my daily nutrition and executing a personal exercise regimen three days each week to lose 10 pounds and to keep the weight off.” And with that specific resolution must come the planning, scheduling, recruiting, investing, and any other actions to flesh out the resolution to a detailed plan you’re committed to execute.

That is making a resolution because that is being honestly resolved to achieving something specific, whatever it takes!

We all have things we NEED to resolve to do in 2021. We should decide those things in consultation with God; and with His blessing, we should fully resolve to make some things happen by doing the planning, preparation, and investing so that when the New Year arrives, we begin to execute what we have resolved to do.

Make it a great year!

Scotty