If you are anything like me, you are a goal-setter … but the thought of “failing” the one objective I have set out to do on January 1st is the fastest way for me to not get anything done at all.
I have three reasons why I opt out of making a New Year Resolution — but remember I am a goal-setter too! So, fear not! I also have a solution to allowing you to set high-reaching goals and grabbing a great possibility to actually achieve them!
First, let’s look at three reasons you need to “just say NO” to this year’s New Year’s Resolution:
Say NO #1: No offense, but you aren’t “resolute”
The term “resolution” sounds like a mandate, like a mission statement of a company. If it doesn’t bolster you, the encouragement will have to come from you. And chances are you don’t have a perky advertisement department to remind you of your goals and spur you forward.
Say NO #2: Your life will change
Actually, the hope is that your life will change this year … for the better, of course! Another opportunity, new friendships, a great experience (or two or three!). But if you have a strict resolution (This year I’ll stop eating sugar. This year I’ll take a walk around the block every day.) you’ll either miss out on a chance to make your life better … or you’ll beat yourself up for the next 11 months because you “failed” to keep your promise to yourself. Emotional stress is worse than ever attempting to give up sugar!
Say NO #3: God might have something better
Let’s say you fulfill your goal and actually do whatever it was you planned to do. Maybe it was something really awesome too, like “Read the Bible one time through this year.” Great! But what if, while you’re working so hard to achieve something amazing, you miss on what God is teaching you? What if you ignore God’s call to spend some of those thirty minutes in the morning to pray for your friend instead (while still reading the Bible, just not the whole thing in a year) — or spend a few minutes talking to your kiddo, or to take a few deep breaths. … or something even zanier like read one particular passage in the Bible over and over for 7 days in a row? Chances are high you won’t be reading the Bible in a year … but you’ll be working alongside God! You could go a whole year and miss God’s whispers if you are too “resolute.”
The solution: Find a Bible verse you will hold on to this year.
Before you balk, hear me out. (May I remind you if I don’t achieve something every stinkin’ day I will fall over and die. Okay, that’s extreme … but you get my point. Hitting goals is serious to me!)
Think about it for a second: If you had achieved whatever it was you set out to do last year, what have you learned about God? Put another way: what could you have learned if you spent the year, not only fulfilling the chore, but leaning into Him instead? Reading the Bible — or any other discipline — is a great goal, by the way. My point here is to be careful to not be too limiting. Read the Bible — or pray daily or help out at the shelter once a week — but leave time to ask God what He wants you to do.
Okay, okay, I hear you. “Sure, Cheryl. You sure talk a lot … But what about YOU?” And that’s only fair. Read all about my aim for New Year 2024.
Back to you…
You could spend twelve months pining away and never truly change, never learn something wonderful and exciting about yourself!
And that’s my guarantee to you. You can set out to do those resolutions of yours (Oh my goodness, I hope you get to the top of Mount Everest too!) while making this a year of life-impacting transformation! Up for the challenge?
Now let’s discuss some reasons you could be making fantastic goals for this year — and achieving them — by holding on to a Bible verse.
Reason #1: When you hold on to God’s words, you are listening to the words of your Creator.
Once this dialogue starts, God will lead you. For instance, this year I’m holding on to Matthew 11:29 and want to find rest in Jesus. Already He has been telling me the wonderful truth that more work (taking up Jesus’ yoke) can be more restful, and that rest for the soul is different than physical rest. You can imagine what Sunday has been like lately as I ask God more about these intriguing truths … and it has motivated me to read the Bible more!
Since I’m not stuck on only one objective but have a more transformational mindset, I’m free to reshape the definition of what I’ve set out to achieve. I might be wanting to “rest” this year, but I can reshape that idea in my mind. On January first, I really thought rest can only come about through quiet time at home. But since then, I’ve learned that volume doesn’t matter because the quiet only makes me more anxious. That’s okay! Because “quiet rest” isn’t my goal (as it would have been if I had a resolution to “spend 15 minutes in quiet meditation”) — rest, in any form, is my true aim. Now I’m open to the possibility that rest can be any moment I’m with Jesus, learning about Him (even when it’s crazy busy and my ideas are flying a mile a minute).
Another example: a few years back, I focused on forgiveness. As I was reading through the Bible, exploring my need for it, the challenges I was facing, I realized I was pulled toward the idea that I wasn’t trusting God. Rather than forgiveness, I was now learning about trust and exploring that! Did I beat myself up for not sticking with my first Bible verse? Absolutely not! In fact, “trust” because my new aim for the following year!
And, yep, trusting God helped me to surrender … and actually forgive the person I’d needed to that year. That wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t been following God where I needed to go.
Reason #2: Inward transformation = Outward achievement
The beauty of growing internally is that the greater courage, self-esteem, joy that is flowing inside, the more willing a person is to work harder (meet that financial goal, for example), try new experiences (cooking class, anyone?), overcome greater challenges (finally get to the gym and work up a sweat!).
In addition, these accomplishments will last because you’ve changed. Instead of “New Year, New You” it’s “New You, New Year” … and ultimately produces way more possibilities!
Reason #3: When life happens, you’re still on target.
The biggest problem with holding on to a resolution is that it’s simply not possible to hold to something when there is something more important to take you away. Sickness ravages our bodies (or a loved one’s), vacations are canceled (or suddenly are required), financial situations can alter plans…
But when your goal is to be thankful in all circumstances, that health crisis or lost opportunity is just another chance to dive into your New Year goal. In fact, you’ll probably be diving into your Resolutions a lot in the first few weeks since challenges kickstart learning!
Ready to start? Here are some tips and frequently-asked-questions to get you on your way!
Tip #1: Go with a theme.
Want to be more loving? A simple internet search will pop up a few dozen Bible verses about God’s command to love, God who loves, God’s example on loving.
Tip #2: Choose the verse from last year that stuck to you.
Is there a sermon you can’t get out of your head? That is God talking to you! Has a Bible verse been popping up in the podcasts you listen to that ring in your soul? Take hold of it because there is something there. It’s not cheating to use something familiar. In fact I’d strongly encourage you to pick a verse that is more common. If you put up a sturdy peg, you can hang more on it, after all 🙂
Tip #3: Choose your verse in the summertime.
For me, that is between July and August, when the windows are open, the days are longer, I can go out in nothing more than a cute tank tops and shorts, and most of all, I have a full dose of Vitamin D. I’m also most inspired and optimistic during those sunny months as the trees are so green, the flowers are vibrant, and the air is full of aromas (yes, steaming asphalt … but lilac and barbeques too!). I spend a day to write down a brief review of the year, what I learned, how I transformed, and then write a few sentences about the new verse I choose and what I hope to learn from it.
FAQ #1: What about goals? I have so much I want to achieve in the new year!
I include those too! I have a few practical milestones in mind, but they are loosely framed by my true aim: learn about God and learn about myself in God. I might accomplish those things (publish a book, learn how to sleep) — and I usually do — but I also achieve so much more because I’m letting God lead. And He is the Good Shepherd after all, who loves me more than I love myself.
FAQ #2: August is sooo early! What if something awesome (or tragic) happens in the end of the year that happens this year that doesn’t get in the end-of-year review?
Then add it! The beauty of having a review already written is, well … it’s already written! It can be modified when the clock strikes midnight on January first. My main reasoning is to not wait until December (or *gasp* the dead-of-winter January) when I’m too exhausted to move, much less be motivated to think of a daunting next 12 months. (Winter seems to stretch forever, since the start of the year is at the beginning of the Midwestern Winter. And hovers at thirty degrees until June!)
Two more things to note:
First, the calendar year starts in January … but schools start in August. And businesses have their own fiscal year that can start whenever. So, why can’t I have a year that starts in August? It’s still a full year, since I start again in August!
Second, just as a long jump occurs after a running start, it makes sense to have something in motion before the New Year starts so you can knock off achievements right away. Instead of celebrating a resolution on January 2, you can celebrate your first accomplishment! Now that is a reason for fireworks!
Whether January or August or any day in between, it’s not too late to start to make this year the best year ever!
Your turn: Let’s share! What is your goal this year?
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