How are You with New Year’s Resolutions?

Author: Phil Edwards, CEO of Vision Christian Media

Some people set big goals but give up quickly. Others persist and succeed, while others set none at all (of course if you aim for nothing you’ll hit it every time!). Which are you? I think successful people will tell you that the key is not just in the goal setting, but also in our resolve to be intentional in our daily thoughts and habits. This is true for both physical and spiritual things, and it’s also a soundly biblical principle for us to follow, with God’s help.

So here’s a simple framework to help you capture the opportunity of this New Year;

1. Ask God – what do you want me to change, and how does this relate to my daily habits and thinking

Then write them down:
a. Each day with God’s help, I will start doing/do more…
b. Each day with God’s help, I will stop doing/do less…

2. Ask God – help me with longer-term goals and dreams

Then write them down:

a. Specific goals for the year, or longer-term
b. Things you will do for the first time (that will stretch you)
c. Things you are trusting God for in faith (desires of your heart that are largely outside your control)

I encourage you to take time out to do this. Pray about it and write down your answers – as many or as few things as you wish under each question. Then keep the list somewhere visible (on your fridge at home, at your desk, in your bible etc.)

If you fail with the daily things, remember tomorrow’s a new day to start afresh with God’s help and keep looking to Him rather than ourselves. These words from The Word for Today are worth remembering;

When you look inside yourself, you become aware of your own inadequacy.

When you look around, you become aware that others are fighting the same battles.

But when you look to God, you discover He is ‘able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.’

Our prayer for this year is that we all get a revelation that our ability to help people look to God daily will increase as we look to Him more ourselves each day. The more we do this, the more our minds will be renewed and our lives transformed, the more God is glorified and the more we can minister.

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” and also 2 Corinthians 3:18 “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”)

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