New Year’s Resolutions

Many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Statistics show many people abandon them in the first week of January.

Having done no scientific research, my guess of the top three New Year’s resolutions would be:

1. Lose weight.
2. Exercise.
3. Break a bad habit.

These first two resolutions refer to physical goals. The third resolution covers any type of negative habit. There is a scripture which applies to all three of these resolutions, spiritually speaking.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

“…lay aside every weight…” 

It’s easy to acquire things in our lives that weigh us down. Simply put, we need to lose some weight.

“… and the sin which so ensnares us…”

No matter what we do, God’s love for us is constant; but sin make us feel guilty and keeps us from accepting His love. Sin causes us to miss out on enjoying our relationship with Him and living in His blessings. It’s a good time to get rid of those bad habits.

…and let us run with endurance…”

There’s no better guarantee for a good year than finding out what God wants us to do and get busy running our race. It’s time for exercise.

So you see, God’s top three resolutions for us spiritually may match some of our physical goals. I hope we keep God’s “resolutions” better than most of us keep our physical ones. But there is encouragement in the next verse.

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith…”

This is how it is done. We don’t do it on our own; we depend on Jesus and He gives us the power to obey Him. He is our Beginning and He is our Finishing. We accomplish everything in His strength.

This year, let’s “lose some weight, get rid of some bad habits, and exercise.”