New Beginnings—Day 3: New Year’s Resolutions

"Follow God’s example… as dearly loved children…” (Ephesians 5:1)

When a new year begins, people are taken up with resolutions and predictions for what the next three hundred sixty-five days will bring. Many times, however, our plans to lose weight, to get fit, and to get organized, for example, don’t even last through the month of January.

We can be lighthearted about some of our failed good intentions, but not when it’s a question of our not being able to kick habits that are destructive to ourselves and to our loved ones. While bad habits can be changed in an instant when we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to come into our hearts, there are times when God has to change things around in our lives in order for entrenched habits to be overcome. Our minds have to be renewed, because we are used to thinking a certain way; and our thoughts may automatically go down old tracks that are not healthy for us.

It isn’t enough to get rid of the old habits, however; we also have to begin some new practices. In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul told them not only to put off their “old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires,” but also to “put on the new self;” not only to “put off falsehood,” but to “speak truthfully to [their] neighbor” instead; not to steal any longer, but rather to “work so that they may have something to share with those in need.”

It is said that it takes about a month or so to make or break a habit; so, as we put these good things into practice, we will gradually see good habits forming—habits such as spending time with the Lord and reading his Word every day. It also goes without saying that we must use wisdom in staying away from former haunts and refraining from watching or listening to things that could reignite old passions.

The truth of the matter is that we can make new resolutions until we’re tired of doing so, but nothing is going to change unless Christ is living his life through us. Thankfully, that is what is promised to every believer. We can get off the treadmill of forever turning over a new leaf and instead ask the Holy Spirit for the strength to break bad habits as well as the grace to make new, godly habits that will help us in our walk with the Lord, to the glory of his name.

And as for predictions concerning any new season in life, here is one that as Christians, you and I can absolutely count on: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23:6)!