Every year, we are faced with the option to make New Year resolutions. In previous years, I have gone out of my way to make New Year resolutions, only to never uphold any of them. For example, last year I made the resolution to be healthier in both body and mind, but my body and mind had other plans. In the same way, I made the resolution to travel more, but the only new place I went to was a hospital in another city.
It goes without saying, but I’m kind of over the entire New Year resolution trend. I don’t find them helpful or beneficial to us in the long-run. Even in the case of people trying to lose weight for the New Year, they can normally only stay on track for about a month and then they stop going to the gym, eating healthy, and working on their health. Many of us think that we have failed our New Year resolutions, but maybe it’s the New Year resolutions that have failed us.
Realizing We Are Only Human
We are human beings. We are not robots who are supposed to be 100% productive all the time. God didn’t create us with the purpose of fulfilling New Year resolutions or to always be on a quest to better ourselves. Instead, when we look at the Bible, we are told that we have been given fullness in Christ, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority” (Colossians 2:9-10).
We are not lacking anything. From the moment we place faith in Jesus, we are complete. Even for unbelievers, they are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, all people are beloved, cherished, and more than enough to God. He loves us because this is who He is (1 John 4:8).
In other words, God doesn’t love us based on what we do or what we don’t do. He loves us just because He loves us. There is no underlying message or ulterior motive. The love He has for all people is abounding, certain, and steadfast. Nothing in all creation can separate us from His love, which is found in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37-39).
Whether we maintain our New Year resolutions or not doesn’t change how God feels about us. Therefore, we need to stop defining ourselves by whether or not we succeed in our resolutions. This is one of the key reasons why I don’t want to make any New Year resolutions this year because I know I won’t uphold them and then I will feel like a failure. As someone who is already extra hard on herself, I don’t want to make my mental health worse.
Rather than feeling like we have to earn God’s love through resolutions, such as to read the Bible more, to take a Bible course, or to pray every day, we need to know that God already loves us as we are. All of these resolutions are great things, but at the moment we think we have failed, we will give up reading the Bible, studying its contents, and praying. This is ultimately why we don’t need to treat spiritual disciplines or really any discipline as being a resolution because once we deem we have failed, we will give up.
Little Changes Are Better
I’m not against people who want to make resolutions, but I would say to be cautious. It is more beneficial to make small changes in your life rather than trying to make major changes. In fact, just stop seeing these things as “New Year resolutions.” Choose to see them as healthy habits you are cultivating in your life. For example, if your New Year's resolution is to pray more often, just start praying each day, but don’t view it as a failure if you forget one day.
By thinking you have failed, you could potentially give up praying and this is not good. Therefore, make little changes in your life to work toward your goals. Similarly, if reading the Bible more is something you want to do, then start reading today. You don’t have to wait until after the New Year starts. Take time to read the Bible each day, but don’t treat it like a resolution. Treat it as something you want to do for your spiritual health.
By seeing these things as something you want to do, you will be less likely to quit. From personal experience, I don’t do well with long-term goals. If I try to uphold a goal for the entire year, I only hold out until February or March—at best. However, when I try to make little changes in my life, it's easier to maintain them throughout the year.
I have often written about trying to be creative each day this past year as a New Year's resolution. I started out strong, but by May, I had already stopped. I didn’t give up, but rather, I chose to stop this practice because it’s purpose had already served me. I needed something to get me through the winter months and it did. It challenged me to get outside and to be creative each day, but when spring came, it wasn’t as hard to get out anymore or find joy in the little things.
And we have to know this is completely okay. Sometimes some of our resolutions will not be needed the entire year. This is why it is important to be intuitive when it comes to making little changes. For example, maybe you want to start running at the beginning of the year, but by March, you are not enjoying it anymore. This doesn’t mean to give up on all exercise—rather, it might mean it is time to switch it up to bicycling, roller blading, or swimming.
Thinking of What We Want Out of This New Year
Being flexible and intuitive in our life decisions will prove to be more fruitful and won’t be as intimidating. I want to challenge you to think about what you want out of this year, not what you can give this year. Many Christians might think this is selfish or unbiblical, but they are forgetting that Jesus has given us an abundant life (John 10:10). This abundant life is supposed to be filled with contentment.
Sadly, many Christians think it is wrong to be happy, but this is not true. Why is it okay for us to be joyful, yet not happy? Aren't happiness and joy closely linked? Unfortunately, smiling ear-to-ear has been demonized by many Christians, but remember that happiness is not evil because it is a blessing from the Lord Himself.
Jesus tells us, “I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy” (John 15:11, ERV). The Lord wants us to be happy and to have a wonderful year. Whether you make resolutions or not, know that Jesus loves you. His purpose for your life far extends a New Year's resolution list and doesn't hinge on your ability to check those things off. Rest in that peace this New Year!
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Alvaro Moreno Perez
Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate: https://cultivatechristianity.wordpress.com/.