Well it is once again that time of year, the New Year, a time for New Beginnings. And of course it is the time of year when we hear a lot about making New Year’s Resolutions. Probably we hear more about the fact that about 90 percent of New Year’s Resolutions are forgotten in one to three months after making them. Have you ever wondered why that is? I have my own ideas about that, so let me share them.

First of all, so that we are all of the same understanding, look at the definition of “Resolve”. Definition: “The act of resolving, determining or deciding upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc. The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; to have a firmness of purpose.”

This is kind of a two part definition. The first is the actual “resolving, determining, or deciding upon a course of action”. That’s the easy part I think. It’s not hard for us to look at our lives and think, “I really would like to change myself or something I do.” So the decision part or contemplation part is the first step. The hard part is the second part of the definition: “The mental state of being resolved or resolute, to have a firmness of purpose.” In layman’s terms that means to decide to do something and then actually do it.

I don’t know about you, but for me it doesn’t take more than a few minutes of examination to make a long list of things I would like to change about myself or my life. I’m not saying that I have a lot of bad habits or hidden secrets, but there are a number of things I would like to improve or accomplish that I have not to this point been “resolved” enough to do.

I’ve heard some folks criticized themselves for the lack of resolve (stick-to-it-ness) in their lives. Let me offer this suggestion or recommendation. Instead trying to change or accomplish everything on your personal list just chose one thing and work on that. What is the most important thing you can do, want to do, feel it is necessary to do, yet you have never done or changed it?

Fifty one years ago I decided to be come a Christian and it changed my life forever. You may be waffling back and forth on some resolution, not able to decide whether to commit to it or not. There is one simple question you need to answer, “Why?” Are you afraid to change your life, do you think you will face these changes all alone? Never stop resolving to change parts of your life!

Jesus tells us, “Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened”. (Luke 10:9b-10) The greatest resolution you can make is to be a better child of God in the coming year! Will you?

Russ Lawson is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves Daily Advocate readers weekly with his column Today’s Challenges. He is the Director of World Christian Literature Outreach and can be reached at rlawson@wclo.net. Viewpoints expressed in these opinion pieces are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.