NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
January 02, 2001

Perhaps you've heard the New Year's greeting, "May all your troubles during the 
coming year be as short-lived as your New Year's resolutions."  Unfortunately, 
this humorous remark contains more truth than we might want to admit.  How can 
New Year resolutions be turned into kept promises?

First, turn your resolution into a commitment.  Instead of just making a promise 
to yourself, make a commitment to God.  Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the LORD 
whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."  Of course, if you make your 
commitment before God, you should approach that resolution with the seriousness 
that any promise to God deserves.

Second, work on your thinking.  New wine will not work in old wineskins (Mt. 
9:17).  If you want to develop new habits, it demands new thinking.  "Renew" 
your mind and you can break out of the world's way of thinking (Rom. 12:2).

Thirdly, make sure that your priorities are straight.  Jesus commanded us, "But 
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given 
to you as well" (Mt. 6:33).  Focusing on the wrong things can prevent us from 
reaching the important goals of life (Mk. 4:19).  Keep your priorities 
straight and everything else will fall into place.

Finally, do something!  Take action!  Don't bury your New Year's 
resolutions out of fear (Mt. 25:25).  Each successful step builds momentum for 
the next.

One young boy once told his teacher about his New Year's revolution.  Some of us 
need a God-centered revolution before any New Year's resolution will be 
worthwhile.  Turn your life over to God and then watch as, with His help, you 
begin to succeed in being that person you always wanted to be.

Leslie S. Chapman