The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions has its roots in Christianity. The early Christians felt the first day of the year was a time to think about the mistakes one has made in the past, but it was also a time to look ahead and resolve not to make those mistakes again. Nowadays it is more of a secular pursuit as people make pacts with themselves to exercise more, eat healthier and improve one’s self in other ways. Over 45 percent of Americans make a resolution but only 8 percent keep them. Making a pledge to committing to an idea is one thing. Keeping it is another. May the New Year bring you opportunities to stick to your plan of discipline, whether it may be to become more faithful in your Bible reading to be an overall better human being. Ask God to help you resolve to keep your eyes on Him and in the center of His will for your life. An infusion of God’s Holy Spirit can bring this to fruition in your life

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.”

Peter F. Drucker

Scriptures to Commit to Memory

• Proverbs 12:24 “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.”
• Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

A Prayer of Resolve

O Lord, here I am faced with another new year. The horizon in front of me reaches far and wide. The unknown faces me along with the reality of the uncertain. The past is what it is. The future is in Your hands. Grant me to courage to take steps each day to embrace the opportunities, to be kind to all I meet along the way and to determine to stick to it no matter what challenges come my way. I recognize that I cannot do this in my strength but completely rely on your Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen me each day. Amen.

Steps to Salvation:

The Bible states that God loves you and cares for you as a person (John 3:16). Human-kind has been separated from God by sin (Romans 3:23). God sent His Son as a provision for our salvation through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead (Romans 5:8). Doing good deeds is not enough (Ephesians 2:8-9), but receiving the free gift of salvation is (John 1:12).

You can invite Jesus Christ into your life right now by praying something like the following:

Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I need your forgiveness and grace. I believe that Christ paid the penalty for my sin, and He died in my place, and He rose from the dead. I invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as Savior. Thank You for saving me from my sin and making me Your child. Help me to grow and learn how to serve You. Amen.