New Year's Resolutions

This is the time of year when people make New Year’s resolutions.

Some will buy a membership to a fitness club.

Others will pledge to break a bad habit.

According to the article Implementing New Year's Resolutions by Suzanne van Gils, here are statistics on how we maintain our resolutions throughout the year:

• Past the first week: 75%


• Past 2 weeks: 71%


• After one month: 64%


• After 6 months: 46%

If you have ever tried to make a New Year’s resolution these numbers may not surprise you.

So how do we follow through on our resolutions, especially our spiritual ones? I would recommend that we keep a few things in mind.

First of all, we serve a God of grace and mercy. The first time we fail doesn't mean we should give up. God is all about second chances. If your goal for 2008 is to be more giving, don’t quit the first time you act selfishly. God forgives you, so it’s OK to forgive yourself.

Second, remember that faith is a life-long journey. We are always working to improve as followers of Jesus. Don’t expect to change completely overnight.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help. The church is a community of people all traveling the same journey; we are just at different places along the way. God brought us together to encourage and help each other.

It can be challenging to stick to our resolutions, but if we can remember that God and our fellow followers of Jesus are here and we are not alone, then we can strive to become more and more like the God we aim to serve.

shine!
Jason