Does your Resolution Stick?

“So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

For many, the New Year brings a sense of renewal, inspiration, and growth. It is that time of year when you say: “This will be the year that I will...” The weight of those dots—the phrase caught within them—is immense. Maybe those dots following the “this is the year that I will” represent a weight loss plan, reducing personal debt, organizing those closets that seem to fill with junk, or reading more.

The flipping of the page to a new year carries a spirit of joy with it: a fresh start, a fresh page. I used to put little stock in New Year’s resolutions. However, every year since the pandemic of 2020, I have started to look at this new year transition in a new light. 2020 felt so fragile. A new year presented an opportunity for growth, an opportunity for change. In the new year transition, we can reflect on where we have come, let go (dust off) anything that is keeping us down, and commit to something new. Every year we get beyond 2020, and things start to feel less fragile. We start the New Year of 2025 with an understanding that it is a new slate to write the story of our lives on.

This spirit of newness and growth is deeply seated in our faith tradition. In fact, as the writer of the first and second letters to the church in Corinth suggests—newness and growth is the spirit of Christ as long as it secures hope for those around you. New Year’s resolutions were established with religious intentions.

The Babylonians made promises to their gods to return borrowed objects or repay debts. Centuries later, the Romans also made promises to their god Janus, for whom the month of January was named. Janus was the God of doors in the Roman imperial cult. Figuratively speaking, there are many doors in life. You do not always know where those doors may lead you, but the first step is to cross the threshold. The desire to make promises for the New Year continued in Western civilization among Christian communities.

In 1740, John Wesley introduced a new type of church service called Watch Night services. These services were offered as a godly alternative to holiday partying for Christians who wanted to renew their covenant to God. This is where the Wesleyan Covenant prayer was used to renew a commitment and offer one’s whole being as an instrument to accomplish God’s will in the world.

Samantha Tidball, a youth pastor out of Nashville, says: “The culture around us tends to focus their resolutions on self-improvement . . . health, finances, organization, education, career goals and relationships. Nearly half of Americans make resolutions, but sadly only 8 percent are successful in keeping them.”

A few things to think about as you reflect on the happenings of 2024 and the opportunities of 2025:

1. Make resolutions rooted in who Christ calls you to be—whatever that may look, feel, or act like.

2. There is a difference between aspirations and resolutions. Aspirations are nice thoughts, and resolutions are strong commitments.

3. You are not alone on the journey.

First, don’t forget to make resolutions for this New Year that open doors for Christ to create something new in you. Spiritual growth may not add dollars or cents to your checking account, it might not cinch in the waistline of your favorite pair of jeans, and it may not give all the answers you need to organize your life—but it will affect the way you see all these things. It will affect the way you live and bring wholeness through the power of Christ. Christ brings goodness in all forms. Being a new creation in Christ does not make everything like a Disney fairytale story; that’s not the point of Christianity. However, it allows Christ to work in us to see things with new, bright eyes that open us up to opportunities. We become better people when we become people in Christ.

Secondly, there is a difference between aspirations and resolutions. Aspirations are who we would like to be, what we would like to have happen, or where we would like to grow. They are not secured by plans—they are wishes. They are strong desires, longings, or aims/ambitions. Resolutions are related directly to goals. Goals only work when they are secured by exact measurable plans. Remember those SMART goals you were taught a long time ago (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound)? If you are serious about something—whether it be spiritual or personal, or both—take time in prayer to make plans with God to accomplish the goal.

If you want to grow closer in your relationship with God, make a plan to set aside a specific time during the day in prayer and study. Make it easy for you to take this time by clearing your calendar, setting up the space, and making sure the kiddos know that unless it is an emergency, they should go to your spouse for help. Set up a plan for what will keep you on track. If you want to grow in relationships with others, find a group to join. Be specific about what you are looking for to keep you committed. Make plans to try several groups and set a date by which you will select one to be part of for seven to nine weeks. See—SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.

Lastly, remember that you are not alone in your process of growth. A haunting question I ask myself often is: “Who do I listen to?” Or “What guides my attention?” I ask myself who in my life, when they speak, I turn in to listen. If the answer is no one—this is a problem. If the answer is everyone—this is a problem, too. Community provides clarification to problems and can be a mirror that reflects back your strengths and areas for growth.

If you want to grow as a person, in your spirituality, then become part of a community. Don’t forget the pastor is always there to chat, reflect, and listen. The beauty of my job is that I get to be paid to listen and be in relationship with you. Coffee, tea, a little topic, and we can produce many things together.

Go out. Arise! Shine! Greet the New Year with the possibilities that it holds.

– Pastor Jon