One New Year's Resolution To Rule Them All

It’s almost New Year’s! We’re all excited for a fresh start, which means most of us already have some habits that we plan to make or break this year. What are your resolutions? What would you like to achieve, cultivate, or quit doing that will improve your life? 

Fresh goals and vision are a must for moving toward the life you want, but we all know what happens to most New Year’s resolutions as the months advance. It’s easy to lose sight of a goal, get distracted, or get discouraged when things don’t go exactly as hoped. But there is hope! What if I told you that making a SINGLE habit for this year, and focusing on that one thing, could help you achieve all your other goals? It sounds too good to be true, but I’m about to change your mind because this one thing is absolutely going to change the way you dream about your future, and it will give you the tools you need to see it come to pass.

The most important habit for leading a successful life is seeking God and His Word in your daily life. It is the habit that rules all other habits. When you put God first, He gives you everything you need to accomplish every other goal you will ever dream of, let me explain how.  

I’d like to start by listing the most popular New Year’s resolutions of all time:

1. Exercise more
2. Lose weight
3. Get organized
4. Learn something new
5. Live a happy, successful life
6. Save money/ Spend less money
7. Quit a bad habit

All of these amazing goals are achievable with the tools that God gives us as we seek Him and His Kingdom. The Bible is like a Swiss Army Knife, every book, every scripture has something to impart, a promise for your life. Let’s look at just some (among so many!) of the reasons to prioritize cultivating a habit to be in God’s Word that will help you stay strong in this year's resolutions.

1. Self-control and Self-discipline

The #1 thing that every New Year’s resolution requires is self-control and self-discipline. You cannot move forward in success without both of these. A person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls (Prov. 25:28, NLT). Self-control is the thing that allows you to say no when temptation is high, it is a defense against making decisions that will be harmful.  Likewise, Proverbs 18:9 points out, A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things (NLT) . Self-discipline is the thing that helps you choose to get up early and workout rather than sleeping in, it builds up and constructs the things you want to have success in. A lack of self-discipline can destroy or hinder the things you are called to accomplish. Prioritizing time spent in God’s Word on a regular basis will cultivate both of these pivotal qualities and they will overflow into every other goal you set for yourself. And God will help you grow in self-control and self-discipline, you don’t have to strive for them in your own strength.

2. Strategy and Direction

God has a strategy for every one of our goals, all we need to do is seek him for it. He gives us strategy and direction through the Bible, in communication with us during our prayer time, and throughout the day when we are listening. God cares about your New Year’s resolutions, he is the one that gives you the desires of your heart! He wants you to succeed in everything you do, and he has a divine strategy ready, with directional steps toward accomplishing your resolutions. 

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:6 NLT

3. Strength and Endurance

It takes strength and endurance to see something through, even fun things. Projects that start with such excitement and hope, can become tiresome at the end. It takes grit to finish! But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). Seeking God and drawing strength from His Words gives you what you need to continue in your goals, and know that you are not doing this alone! God is with you, and he is faithful to continue the good work he started in you until it is complete (see Philippians 1:6). Seek Him and he will give you strength to follow through with your New Year's resolutions.

4. Encouragement and Hope

We all need to be encouraged to continue at times. Our Father in Heaven is the best cheerleader you will ever have. He knows exactly how to encourage you and give you hope to keep moving forward! Every word in the Bible can be used to encourage and build you up. There is a lesson in each story that can give you fresh perspective and spur you on in hope. And God is infinite, you could be reading a story that you’ve read a hundred times, but God may speak through it differently and give you something new to help you continue in your goals. 

5. Renewal and Redemption

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Cultivating a new habit can be challenging, and as humans, there will be times that we mess up. But that doesn’t mean that it’s all over. In Christ there is grace. Grace for us to fall and get back up again and continue the race. This goes for all things; actions, thoughts, and attitudes, whether sinful or not. That means that you have been given grace to pick up a habit again, even if you missed a day that you were supposed to work out, ate a cookie that you weren’t supposed to eat, or had a day that did not further you in your goal. You have been made new every moment that you choose. If you make a mistake, renew your mind in God’s Word, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy (Eph. 4:23-24 NLT). 

We serve a God who gives us great dreams, and equips his children with everything they need to accomplish them. So make your New Year’s resolutions and make regularly spending time in God’s Word the #1 top priority! Ask God for strength and strategy in accomplishing your other goals, and then run your race and finish it! 

As always, I’m cheering for you!

​Love, Camri