Well, you might ask, “Isn’t it a bit late for New Year resolutions on 13 January?”
I might agree, but then counter with, “Better late than never.”
To tell the truth, as I said in last week’s blog, https://jesusontheroad.com/christmas/god-be-merciful-to-me-a-sinner/, I’m feeling a bit stressed at this time of year. Having to think about New Year resolutions before 1 January was a bit beyond me, actually way beyond me. Even as I write this, I’m conscious that I’ve really got TOO much to do in preparation for our big caravan trip.
So, maybe my resolution for this year is to slow down? Humph! How can I slow down, when there is so much to do! Maybe, what I need to do is to prioritise differently? Mmm. That sounds good in theory. Yet, it’s not so easy to do.
I did some internet research on making New Year’s resolutions. Wow! So many things I could or should do to make myself a better person. Many suggestions are to do things to make things easier for myself, and to make myself more comfortable. I can/could/should treat myself to: more holidays; spas; good food etc etc. I can get rid of mess; things, and people(!) that don’t make me happy. I should spend less time on a screen; stop buying things I don’t need; and let go of grudges. I should stop multitasking; stay in touch with people who matter; and travel somewhere (or do something) without posting it on social media.
Some sites suggested that I should be kind to myself. One even said we should give up New Year resolutions altogether. They just make us feel bad about ourselves, and we usually don’t keep them anyway. So maybe we just smile and be satisfied with our less than perfect selves, knowing that the extra kilograms and the smaller wallets mean that we had a good time in 2024 and it’s a good thing to indulge ourselves occasionally.
I also did some research on Christian New Year resolutions. Wow, another long list of should-dos. Read the Bible; spend time alone with God; invite God into ALL daily life; be and make disciples.
Many of these sound excellent. But do I really want to do the hard work necessary to achieve them? And why am I making these resolutions anyway?
I agree that we need to be kind to ourselves. But not because we are so beautiful, worthy, clever, rich, powerful, etc. We need to base our opinions of ourselves on what God has said about us. Being kind to ourselves doesn’t mean being unkind to others, or giving in to our every whim and desire for comfort and over-indulgence.
The Christian resolutions that resonated with me include: be a peacemaker; be humble; forgive; be without offence; be satisfied.
Why should I do these things? It’s not to get on God’s good side, or to earn God’s forgiveness. That’s not possible. I can’t choose God. God chose me before He made the world.
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
Nothing I do can make God love me. Jesus died for me more than 2000 years ago.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NIV)
I AM fatter [thinner; taller; shorter; dumber; poorer; weaker; uglier; slower; sicker; worse] than I want to be. Actually, I really DO need a complete makeover. I want to be a whole new me.
The Bible says that I AM a new creation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)
So, what should I do to improve myself this year? More resolutions, more bagging myself, or bagging others who don’t like me or don’t let me ‘just do me’? More indulging myself, more ignoring my conscience, more chasing after what the media or the culture says I should be chasing? More showing off and envying others on social media? More wasting time and then feeling guilty about it?
Nah. God give me your Holy Spirit to enable me to do what you would have me do.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
1 John 3:23 (NIV)
And he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Cor 5:15 (NIV)
Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Whether then, you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you made any resolutions this year or in the past?
Did you manage to keep them?
How do you feel about what the world says you should/could do this year?