Are Resolutions Only For The New Year?

Are Resolutions only for the New Year?  

Happy New Year!  This is a phrase that we often say to one another around this time of year, although time is continual, with the restarting of the calendar, this time of year can bring an attitude and hope of a “restart”, newness, and freshness. Often time around this time of the year people make resolutions or they resolve themselves to a commitment of sorts for the new year.  Often times these resolutions consist of loosing weight, becoming more organized, or being more financially responsible.  While these are not bad goals, they are however temporal.  

In 2010 and 2011, just as many of you, I experienced the loss of loved ones.  Death is always a good reminder that life is not forever, it is a gift which should not be wasted.  Therefore each of these years of losses have led me to think, “what should the Christian resolve to do?”.  Not in the sense of a resolution due in part to a New Year, but a resolution that defines ones life.  I answered the question at the beginning of 2011 with the answer that I wanted to resolve not to waste my life.  If each breath is a gift from God, I want each breath to be given back to God for His Glory.  This has been a good phrase for my family as we go about our day-to-day lives with the continual question, “how is what I am doing bringing Glory to God and not wasting my life?”.    

As we experienced the death of another loved one in late 2011 I begin to think more upon the question of what should not only I resolve to as a Christian, but what should my family resolve to as a Christian family?  What legacy do I want my family to be remembered and known for?  Therefore in late 2011 Natalie and I begin to pray and commit ourselves that we want to be known as a family who loves God, hates our sin, and loves others more than ourselves.  This is the legacy that we want to hold ourselves to as well as our children to.

What are your goals for yourself and your family?  I learned through a leadership class I took this year that goals must be held for daily objectives to be accomplished.  What are your overall goals for life?  Do you talk about them with your spouse or children?  Although resolutions are not limited to the new year, this is a perfect opportunity to discuss and bring up how you and your family can better Glorify God this year through setting long-term goals that define your daily objectives.  

I love you all, covet your prayers, and am in prayer for you always,

Jonathan