Resolved

It is that time of year when everyone is looking at their life and trying to make a new start on those resolutions that you failed at last year. Maybe you want to lose a few pounds, exercise more, have less anger, read more, on and on the list goes. The problem is that by the time February hits, most people have forgotten all about the resolutions they have made.

Don’t get me wrong, resolutions are great. Jonathan Edwards made 70 of them and made the plan to read over them once a week to keep them fresh in his heart and mind. I have a feeling he would have scoffed at the idea of using a weight loss goal as a resolution. That would be far too carnal minded for his tastes. Rather, he allowed his resolutions to take a much higher aim. For instance one of my favorites:

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

Biblical resolutions can be a great tool for spiritual growth, but don’t forget that Ecclesiastes 5:5 says “it is better to not make a vow rather than to make a vow and not keep it.” So instead of picking 20 resolutions to imitate, pick one or two and then write out practical ways to do it that will keep you away from the risk of forgetting all about it.

So instead of picking just the noble goal of reading through the Bible in a year, choose a reading plan that will work for you. I personally like the 5 Day Bible Reading Plan because it builds in 2 catch-up days every week so you can stay on track with the goal. Maybe you know that 3 or 4 chapters a day is too lofty a goal for you to begin with, then pick something more manageable for you. Better to take a step in the right direction than to intend to go all the way and never even get out of the gate.

Beyond setting attainable goals, I would encourage you to make a plan for keeping the goals. If we keep the Bible reading resolution as an example, think ahead and imagine when you are going to fit this into your schedule. Are you going to get up earlier? Better start setting that alarm now. Better yet, make a trade and get two resolutions for the price of one. Don’t just look at the positive that you want to achieve but also the negative or fruitless that you wish to eliminate.

It will make it a lot easier to get that Bible reading accomplished if there is time that you are currently devoting to something negative which can be devoted to God. So maybe when the temptation arises to play the next level on that addictive app which wastes so much of your time, you will use that as a reminder to focus your attention where it truly belongs.

In the end, the goal for resolutions is progressive sanctification. We want to look and act more and more like our Savior. When we fail, it is an opportunity to thank him for his many perfections and imputed righteousness. And when success comes then thank him for the grace to grow from one degree of glory to another.