The website, finder.com, suggests that 188.9 million adult Americans will make some kind of New Year’s resolution for 2021. Of that number, 141.1 million believe that the resolution is achievable for them. The top categories for these resolutions, beginning with the highest number, include health, self-improvement, money, family, love and career. I am disappointed not more resolutions involve faith, Bible reading or other spiritual matters, although self-improvement likely includes these.
What are some ways to insure you will follow through with your resolution?
One, keep the goal within you. Tie your goal to a Bible verse or verses and memorize them. If your goal is to read the Bible more frequently, memorize Psalms 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” If your goal is health related, remember I Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” If your goal is to be more active in worship and Bible study, turn to Psalms 122:1, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Memorizing a verse that applies to your goal will help keep you on track.
Two, keep the goal before you. Write it down. Tape it on the bathroom mirror, the refrigerator door and the car dashboard. Deuteronomy 6 instructed the people of Israel to write the words of God on their porches and tie them on their hands. The old adage, “Out of sight, out of mind,” is true. Concerning Bible reading, having a daily plan in your Bible is a continual reminder of the goal you have set. These are available in our church foyer or a free download at www.fivedaybiblereading.com. When we are reminded about our goals throughout the day, we are more likely to make a conscious effort to fulfill them.
Three, keep the goal around you. Tell your spouse or friends the goal you have set. Enlist others to help with accountability and to ask you periodically about your progress. It is possible there are others who might share your goal and hold each other accountable. Paul wrote to the Romans, “I long to see you…that I may be encouraged together with you…” (Romans 1:11,12, NKJ). Developing new disciplines and forging a new direction can be a difficult task that simply needs the encouragement of others.
Four, celebrate every step toward your goal. Celebrating the little victories will keep you motivated for the next step. Keep a journal or chart that allows you to mark your progress and review how far you have come. Every follower of Jesus Christ deals with the frustration of failure and the grief of sin. We want to be like Christ but fall short daily. When I’m convicted that I am not what I ought to be, I strive to remember that I’m not what I used to be. God has promised to keep working in my life and He will never stop (Philippians 1:6).