So it's that time of year when people make resolutions. Or maybe, to be more accurate as we're at 5th January now, it's the time of year when most people have made and broken their resolutions. Is that you? I'm pretty sceptical of new year's resolutions and have been for some years. I've been thinking about them though as I've been asked a few times if I've made any this year.
I think most people at some time or other have made a new year's resolution. I can see the logic behind it. You leave in the last year all the things you don't want in your life, and it all feels fresh and so full of potential. A new year, with new opportunities. You don't know what the year will bring, but you can start it right, with that new goal of losing weight, or getting fit or whatever your resolution is.
The only problem with new year resolutions is that, statistically, many have failed before even the first month of the new year is over with. Maybe you failed in the first few days of the new year? What do you do then? Do you feel like a failure and give up? Do you have another go, and try again? If so, do you feel you've tainted the new, fresh, sparkly year with that trip up? Maybe. I know that in the past that is how I've felt when I've made and quickly broken a resolution.
It's interesting though, why would we wait for a new year to start something or change an aspect of our lives that we're not happy with? Do we really find that a new year will give us the kick up the backside we need to achieve these changes? Well, yes and no. In our minds perhaps we think that a new year will provide us with that impetus to change, but in reality it's actually quite difficult to make big changes, and the fact that we're in a new year really does nothing to help us practically make the changes we hoped for.
Personally I think there are two main issues to consider. Firstly, new year's resolutions are generally made with the best intentions, and some good ideas, but we get carried along with the whole magical new year concept. For example, I hear a lot of people say they want to lose weight, and that's their resolution - they'll start January 1st, after Christmas is over with. Now what logical reason would there be to wait for, say a month, and in that time, eat more chocolate, cake, biscuits and general fat laden foods than they have for most of the year gone by? The idea that you'll pig out for a month beforehand then on January 1st have the mental ability to say no to such yummy tasting goodies and eat healthily and exercise too, just because it's a new year, is quite frankly one of the reasons people set themselves up for failure in my opinion. And I've been there. I've been that person....stuffed myself with as many matchmakers and Terry's Chocolate Oranges as possible up to 31st December. Then I've gone and bought that fitness DVD, a big stalk of celery and expected myself to magically to be able to resist every cocoa-laden goody that still lurks in the cupboard. And if I've gone so far as to remove all items of food from the house that contain more than 10 calories, then a little walk to the Spar shop will burn off some calories and allow me a Kit Kat Chunky, surely?? Come on....you know you've done the same!!! And don't even get me started on that expensive gym membership you bought and then later in the year worked out that you can count on one hand the number of times you went the gym. And that each visit to the gym cost you a staggering squillion billion pounds!! (Slight exaggeration maybe, but it feels somewhere in that region).
The novelty of the new year wears off rather quickly, with the novelty of the shiny gym (which actually just smells of sweat), the bunch of spinach and lettuce (which tastes like foliage), or whatever else we've pledged to ourselves, and we soon get bogged down in the dreary winter weather, the dark nights, the long and seemingly unending winter; somewhere along the way our resolve weakens and the fresh new year feels less like the bright white, crisp snow, and more like the lingering brown dirty sludge. The truth is that there's no magical or powerful quality in the new year. It's all a matter of mindset. If we want to change, it may be best not to wait for 1st January, but to get on and do it when we have decided that we are going to do it.
The second point, is that many people stop when they trip up or fail. It feels like we've tainted the new year, and we think "what's the point". Waiting for the new year brings this sort of mindset with it unfortunately.
But, to counter these two issues, we have two more powerful things to consider. The first one being that we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us. So no matter what you need to change or what resolution you need to make, you CAN do it with God's help. You are more than a conqueror and His grace is sufficient for you.
The other amazing thing is that His mercies are new every morning. We don't need to wait for a fresh, crisp, spangly new year. Every day you can start again with God. He will pour on you His mercy and His grace and you can start again right where you are. If you fail, if you have a bad day, you can dust yourself down, and get up the next day with a spring in your step, a song in your heart and little more faith to move that mountain.
So, no, I've not made any new year's resolutions, I am still plodding on with the goals I have set myself in previous years at various points in time when I've felt something in my life needs to change. I am hoping that this year will see more successful days of me reflecting God's glory. I may set myself some more later this year as the Word guides me, or as I see something in myself or my life that needs a bit of a overhaul. However, if you do like resolutions, and perhaps you've made one or two, remember that it doesn't matter if you've tripped up already, you can start each day afresh like a brand new January 1st with God. Let His love surround you each day of 2014 and remember that we need to be kind to ourselves, because if we were perfect, we wouldn't need Jesus.
Happy New Year
