The end of the year has always been one of my favorite times. It’s a chance to reflect upon the goodness of God in my life over the past year, through both happy and hard times. My journal opens up to the goal-page as I think about what needs to change over the next year. The dawn of a new year blows a fresh breath of energy into me. New year, new start. A do-over, another chance.
New Years’ resolutions have lost their luster in past years as people realize how rarely they actually fulfill those resolutions. Lose weight, writes the post-holiday resolver with good intentions. A month later, those cookies look just as delicious as they did at Christmastime. Wake up early to read the Bible, writes another. For a few days, that happens. And then the habit dies before it’s fully formed.
But I don’t think it’s time to let go of this opportunity to make a new start. Some years, you may be unable to dream big and accomplish great things, whether because of health problems or other struggles. Honestly, this last year was one of those years for me. I spent most of the year pregnant and either vomiting or feeling like I was about to vomit. My booklist was about the only solid set of goals I hung onto throughout the year.
The Bible’s Call for Examination
Most years, though, we do have a real, solid chance to look at our lives, give praise for the good, and turn away from the bad. Scripture calls us to “examine ourselves” to see whether our faith is real (I Cor. 13:5), and it exhorts us to encourage each other “daily, while it is still called Today” (Heb. 3:13). And the closing of one chapter in our lives is a perfect time to undertake such examination and encouragement.
If you feel lost when approaching goal-setting, here are some resources:
- Dave Ramsey has a great approach to easy goal setting in seven areas, including financial, spiritual, and family goals. My husband discovered this article after listening to Ramsey’s podcast and was inspired to set goals for himself this year as well as for our family. How to Set Smart Goals for 2020.
- Crossway offers an article that is much more in-depth for Christians who desire to take this chance to pursue Christ more in the coming year. I worked through the questions and “consider your ways” in this article for two years in a row and found it very helpful. 10 Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year, by Donald Whitney.
- Jonathan Edwards wrote 70 resolutions for himself that he consulted regularly, rather than rewriting them each new year. Read The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards to be convicted and inspired. (For example: “Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.”)
Don’t let yourself stagnate!
Whether you’re a corporate executive or a stay-at-home executive, don’t let yourself plateau. Learn something new next month. Read good books. Listen to great music. Ask questions, be hospitable (even if you don’t think your home is hospitality-ready), make new friends, talk to your neighbors. Dive deep into God’s Word, and be forever changed.
If we don’t live on purpose, the world will decide for us what our days look like. Netflix will, by default, be our intellectual sounding board. Whether you keep all your resolutions or not, having something worthy to pursue will make a great difference in your life. High goals and worthwhile resolutions never go out of style.
“It is better to aim high and miss than to aim low and hit.” ―
