Exercise three times a week.
Eat healthier.
Pray daily.
Read the entire Bible this year.
Lose weight.
Text less.
Listen more.
Get organized.
Stop procrastinating.
Live within or below my income.
Become debt-free.
Max-out my Roth-IRA.
Learn a new skill.
Spend more time with friends and family.
All of these and more are common resolutions and goals people will make for the new year. While they are admirable, as well as attainable, they are too often jettisoned within the first few weeks, or maybe even days of the new year.
Why?
Here are two thoughts regarding our resolutions and goals and a suggestion for a possible new approach.
Leadership guru John Maxwell writes, ”There is something more important than goal setting.” He says it is being “growth conscious.” John explains his thinking this way. “If you’re goal-conscious, then you focus on a destination-a sales target, a prestigious position, or a certain level of income. Whereas goal-conscious people lock onto a destination, growth-conscious people focus on the journey. They see the big picture, and they understand that success comes through a process.”
The Bible often speaks of our spiritual growth in terms of being complete, developing maturity, adding Christian virtues, and producing the fruit of the spirit (Jas 1:4; Col. 4:12; Eph 4:13; 2 Pet 3:18). These are not short-term goals. They involve a life-long commitment to Christ and daily following in His footsteps.
While we may set specific goals to help us grow, spiritual maturity is indeed a journey instead of a destination. We can never say that we’ve arrived, but we are reaching forward toward the eternal goal. In other words, discipleship is not an event; it’s a process.
Furthermore, too often our resolutions are as author Leonard Sweet puts it “self-directed.” “Get thinner, work smarter, be stronger, take control of your life,” Sweet observes. “We want to make changes that will help us, improve us, and bring us good feelings about ourselves.”
Sweet suggests that instead of making resolutions “that makes us feel good about ourselves, that brings ourselves pleasure, what if we resolve to live a life that brings pleasure to God?” He challenges us with this question: “What if we were to forget the little resolutions and resolve something big? Something, that brings God pleasure.”
Bringing God pleasure? Is that Biblical? Listen to the Psalmist.
- “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy” (Ps 147:11).
- “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant” (Ps 35:27).
- “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people.” (Ps 149:4)
Maybe one way to understand this is to remember how much we enjoyed the approval of our parents when we were children. Their smile. A pat on the back. A hug. The words, “I’m so proud of you.” It made us feel good. Accepted. Secure. And loved.
Our Heavenly Father desires to find pleasure in our lives. He created us in His image. His likeness. We have a mind to think. Emotions to feel. A will to decide. We’re not puppets controlled by a manipulating Deity. God gives us the ability to choose to serve Him. Worship Him. Obey Him. If we really care about pleasing Him, it will bring us a great sense of satisfaction, knowing that we are living a life pleasing God. And it will give God pleasure.
The Bible tells us that God chose us in Christ, “before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Furthermore, He adopted us “as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Eph 1:4-6).
These two thoughts come together and provide for us a new paradigm about goal setting and New Year’s resolutions. Growth and God. God wants us to grow. It pleases Him. And when we grow to become more like Him we really reach the goals that He desires. Goals that will cause us to be conformed to His image.
- These Scriptural exhortations ought to incentivize us.
- “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding,” advises Solomon (Prov.4:7).
- “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever,” reminds the Psalmist. (Ps. 106:1).
- “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,” Paul implores (Phil 2:5).
- “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Peter urges (2 Pet. 3:18).
- “Be Holy for I am Holy,” our Father lovingly asks. (1 Pet 1:15-16).
- “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me,” Jesus Himself challenges. (Lk. 9:23).
So, as you make resolutions and set goals for the new year, don’t become trapped by unrealistic expectations, unworkable plans, or expect impossible results. Such an approach is almost a guarantee for failure.
Don’t become burdened by the daily disciplines of discipleship. Embrace the challenge. Enjoy the journey. Stay engaged. And keep focused on the big picture.
Don’t become discouraged when you fall short of some goal. Stay committed to personal growth. And seek every day to give God pleasure.
Be principle-centered in your resolutions. Then each day you can say with the inspired apostle, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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