New Year's Resolutions for Christians

you might say: “I am resolved no longer to linger, Charmed by the world's delight.” Making a New Year’s Resolution to work on improving some aspect of our life is not the same thing as swearing an oath.

WHAT A CHRISTIAN RESOLUTION IS NOT
The words of the song ‘I am Resolved’ are very powerful and they certainly clearly define the objective every Christian should take in making a New Year’s Resolution. The song was originally written by James H. Fillmore, Sr. in 1896 and because it was so popular Fillmore asked Palmer Hartsough to rewrite the song for publishing. Perhaps it would be profitable for us to take the time to think about the opening line of that song: “I am resolved no longer to linger, Charmed by the world's delight; Things that are higher, things that are nobler, These have allured my sight.” Now compare this with what Paul wrote to the Romans: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,” (Romans 12:2). How could you possibly find evil in a person resolving to be transformed by the renewing of their mind, through the word of God. For a Christian, that is what a New Year’s Resolution should be all about.

A brief examination of the ten most common New Year’s Resolutions will reveal, however, that they do not all serve to set our minds on things that are higher or nobler. As a Christian, we need to remember that Jesus commanded us to be fruit bearing branches (John 15:1-17). And, Paul explained to the Galatians just exactly what fruit Jesus wants us to produce: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) The point is: it is better for us to resolve to improve our spiritual fruit than it is for us to improve earthly things. For example:
1. Get More Fit is self-focused;
2. Lose Weight is self-focused;
3. Quit Smoking is self-focused;
4. Spend More Time with Family & Friends is outward focused;
5. Enjoy Life More tends to be more self-focused;
6. Fall in Love is self-focused;
7. Get Out of Debt can be more self-focused;
8. Learn Something New depends on what you learn;
9. Help Others is outward focused; and
10. Get Organized is probably more self-focused.
It is obvious that the bulk of worldly New Year’s Resolutions are self-focused. Now, we certainly cannot say that it is wrong for us to want to improve ourselves, but we can say that self-focused endeavors should not be at the top of our list of resolutions.

THE BASIC CONCEPT OF A RESOLUTION
To start with, a resolution is the determination to carry out a specific course of action. In the case of a New Year’s Resolutions we are generally focused on making an improvement in our life, and for the Christian our top priority should be Christian improvements. Our improvement should not be some general statement such as: “I am going to read the bible more.” If we are going to truly make an improvement we need to establish a goal and then list objectives for reaching that goal. The best way to clarify our New Year’s Resolutions is to write them out.

Writing out your New Year’s Resolutions is a good way for you to focus your improvements and it is also a good way to get God involved. For example, you might make the resolution to become