Do you make New Year’s resolutions?
Is it a good idea to make New Year’s resolutions? Some people think so, some don’t.
When Jonathan Edwards was just a young man (only 19) he began composing an impressive list of resolutions, which he resolved to read every week. He finished the list when he was 20. Reading it leaves me speechless. The maturity, the determination, and the godly aspirations expressed in his resolutions are extraordinary, to say the least.
If you’ve never read the list, I would encourage you to do so. Here’s a link. On subsequent New Year’s Eves, if I’m still blogging, I would like to write some brief devotional meditations based on Edwards’ resolutions. They were not New Year’s resolutions, of course, but I think of them every New Year since it’s a traditional time to make resolutions.
Do you make New Year’s resolutions (or better, like Jonathan Edwards, have you made new life resolutions)? Should you? Why or why not?
Barry Wallace
theoparadox
pijohnson
Barry, I used a technique that I borrowed from my the business world. I review the seven areas of my life: work, money, personal, spiritual, love life, family, friends. I will reflect on my previous years resolution and then recast a new set with specific actions steps.
For example: I might want to deepen my spiritual understanding of God’s word. Then my two action steps might be:
1.) Sign up for a “Read the Bible in a Year Plan”
2.) Take a Theology Class
In my opinion, the two action steps are a critical part of the puzzle. Without them, many resolutions wind up merely wishes.
Happy New Year my friend.
Barry:
I wrote a short series of posts on new Year resolutions that will start running tomorrow and will run while I am off visiting friends.
I hope you get to read it, because I will not steal my own thunder by talking about it yet!
David,
That’s a great plan. I will definitely refer back to it.
Andy,
I will read your series, and I’m looking forward to it.
This has been a topic of discussion around our house. I don’t make resolutions for the new year and the rest of the family teases me about it regularly. Usually they point out things that I need to make a resolution to change.
To me making a decision to change due to a new year starting is self-defeating. It is like planning to start a new diet on Monday. Why wait? If it is worth doing, start it today.
Dr. Bruce,
On one hand, I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with doing some self-evaluation, and making concrete plans for change. And I think David’s approach to doing so (mentioned in his comment) is excellent.
On the other hand, I don’t think there’s anything magical about making resolutions on New Year’s Eve. Resolutions can be made any time (a la Jonathan Edwards). That said, many Christians do find the new year to be a good time to commit to a Bible reading plan.
It does seem to me that are at least 3 things that should be kept in mind when making any resolution, though:
(1) The first is to know that God is absolutely sovereign and may very well overrule our plans (James 4:13-15).
(2) The other is to know that godly intentions can only be carried out because of God’s prior work within our hearts and minds (Phil. 2:13).
(3) We will often fail to keep our commitments and find ourselves in need of grace.
All of that is to say that resolutions and goals should be gospel-saturated.