- Diet or eat healthier
- Exercise more
- Lose weight
- Save more, spend less
- Learn a new skill or hobby
- Quit smoking
- Read more
- Find another job
- Drink less alcohol
- Spend more time with family and friends
Can you identify or see yourself anywhere in the list above? Undoubtedly most of us approach a new year with the best intentions to be a better version of ourselves than we were in the previous year. We want to see growth, improvement, and progress in our lives. Most of us do not want to be stagnant, idle, or complacent. So why are we not further along in our journey? Why do we lose our motivation and resolve? Is it because change is not happening fast enough? Do we revert back to old habits and mindsets? Do we get frustrated at a perceived lack of progress? Do we get too caught up in the "cares of life?' Are excuses impeding our way? These questions warrant personal introspection and self-evaluation. If we are not reaching our goals, we must ask ourselves, Why? It's a question for each of us to ponder and grapple with honestly within ourselves.
Perhaps it's prudent to resolve to evoke lasting and meaningful change by using God's word as our compass and our lens. What would it look like to make a resolution that invites God to be a part of our personal journey? The Bible teaches us that without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:4-5).
Consider a word study of Psalm 37:5 for meditation and personal reflection:
- commit (H1556) galal: to roll
- way (H1870) derek: journey, manner, habit, way, course of life, moral character
- trust (H982) batach: to trust in, to have confidence in, to feel safe, to make secure
- also in him and he shall bring it to pass (H6213) 'asah: to do, to accomplish, to produce, to make, to bring about
Have you committed your way to the Lord? Have you rolled your manner, habits, moral character, or journey onto him? Have you placed your confidence in him to the point where you are wholly convinced, resting securely in the truth that he will empower you and enable you to be productive and fruitful? It is his desire that we live lives of abundance, fruitfulness, wellness, peace, and productivity (John 10:10).
If you have made a New Year's Resolution and have not invited God into your planning, may I encourage you to do so? He is ever present to help, lead, and guide each of us on our journey of living life to the full.