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Many people start the new year with a resolution while others say they won’t start something they know they won’t finish. Think of it; how many times do New Year’s Resolutions get broken before the end of January? Just ask any gym owner, and you’ll hear the stories of packed gyms on January 2^nd, only to find empty treadmills by February 1^st.  Is it better to declare a resolution or just be determined to do better?

Determination is often used to describe how one goes about a goal while a resolution is more about the actual decision or end-product. Perhaps the reason people fail at their resolutions is that they don’t have enough determination. When you think about a determined person, you think of someone with focus, willfulness, and mental stamina. A resolution can be defined as a solution to a problem, closure, or result. Neither one is better than the other, but it does cause me to wonder why New Year’s resolutions are taken so lightly. I think it is because nobody really expects you to keep your resolution. I mean, there aren’t accountability groups for New Year’s resolutions. I wonder if some people would do better with a New Year’s determination instead.  I know I could have been more determined in my past resolutions.  So, what does this have to do with God, anyway?  Glad you asked.

My determination this year is only one sentence: To seek God with all my heart. My motto to get there is to “let go and let God”. I know that line has been used by pastors all over the world, but it really is harder to do than it sounds. All my past resolutions to accomplish something or to stop doing something involved my own strength. Left on our own, we are bound to fail at some point. We are human and incapable of being perfect or faultless. If we rely on God, however, we have much more staying power. I figure if I want to accomplish something, I need to turn to God before making any plans or decisions. If I can resolve to do that with determination, I can put aside my pride and let God lead me through his Holy Spirit. If I try to stop a bad habit, how can I rely only on me? My power comes through my faith, and I need to start my day in the Word and let it guide me through all my decisions.

My resolve was underscored twice: once the other day while listening to Dr. David Jeremiah and this Sunday morning in church. Dr. Jeremiah is my favorite pastor to listen to; I try to tune into his program, Turning Point, often. At age 84, he is going strong and doesn’t seem to want to do anything but forage ahead. During his broadcast, he was talking about how Caleb, at age 85, resolved to take on the Anakim (the giants) to inherit the Hill Country and appealed to Joshua for this region. Dr. Jeremiah talked about Caleb’s great faith and how he sought the Lord with all his heart which enabled him to live for victory, while the Israelites were simply living to “not die” when they were wandering in the desert for 40 years. Because they lacked courage and complete reliance on God, the Israelites relied on themselves and would often backslide. Caleb’s unwavering faith allowed him to accomplish great feats, even at an advanced age. I love this because as I age, I want to become more determined to follow God and rely on Him rather than myself.  I want to become stronger in faith even as my body ages.

This morning, during church, the pastor was talking about New Year’s resolutions and how we all need to press into God’s word, rely on him fully, and let go of whatever we are holding on to. It was as if he had read through my journal. God works like that. The two messages were directly related to what had been weighing on my heart as the new year progresses.

Today, think about your own resolution for the New Year. Are you resolved to declare a goal or are you determined to make a resolution for a life change? The term “New Year’s Resolution” has become cliché, but the act of it doesn’t need to be.  Go ahead, I dare you to make one with complete determination and let me know how it goes.  Happy New Year!