In an attempt to answer this question, many people make New Year’s Resolutions in the hope that they will somehow, magically provide the solution. Sadly, most people will abandon them within the first few weeks of January.

New Year’s Resolution

The “Wikipedia” defines a New Year's Resolution as “a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned.”

Depending on which website you read, the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions, in no particular order, seem to be:

1. Training harder

2. Eating right / Losing weight

3. Paying off debt / Saving money

4. Finding Mr or Ms “Right”

5. Spending more quality time with family and friends

6. Getting a better education

7. Finding a better job

8. Drinking less Alcohol

9. Quitting smoking

10. Reducing stress levels

Why do they fail?

Despite the fact that they are made with the best intentions, the amazing fact is that most people break them within the first few weeks of the New Year. The question uppermost in my mind is, “why do they fail?”

They fail, in the first instance, because they are a self-centred attempt at reform from the outside in, and, in the second instance, because they depend on human effort alone.

What is the answer?

The answer lies in looking to the word of God as our source of inspiration instead of looking to ourselves.

Let me direct you to one of the few passages in the Bible where success is definitively defined. To set the scene, Moses had just died and the Israelites were standing at the edge of the Jordan River preparing to enter the Promised Land. God meets with Joshua and, amongst others, He says to Joshua, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and be courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD Your God is with you wherever you go.”ⁱ

Please re-read that passage carefully and take note of the pronoun. God does not say “…then I will make your way prosperous...,” but rather, He says “…then you will make your way prosperous…”

Wow! That sounds like a terrific deal! However, there is a suspensive condition, and that is, “This book of the Law shall not depart from you mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it...” Thus, if we are looking to be successful in achieving what we set out to do next year, we need to constantly meditate on the book of the law – the Bible – and obey what we read.

I submit to you that the more time we spend reading the Bible, the godlier our ideals and goals will become.

New Year’s Revolution

I would like to challenge you to commit to a New Year’s Revolution next year. “What’s that?” I hear you ask. Well, it’s the intentional turning away from the traditional, lame, self-centred attempts aimed at reform from the outside in; and instead turning to God’s word and basing our lifestyles on principles taught therein, and, so doing, being reformed from the inside out.

A Tall order

In fact, I’ll take that one step further and challenge you to join me in striving to live by 10 Biblical principles, found in Romans chapter 12.

1. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. ⁱⁱ

2. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. ⁱⁱⁱ

3. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ^iv

4. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ^v

5. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ^vi

6. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ^vii

7. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ^viii

8. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ^ix

9. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ^x

10. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ^xi

What will it take?

What will it take to live a lifestyle based on these Biblical principles? Apart from the enabling of the Holy Spirit, our success will depend largely on the amount of time we spend meditating on the word of God, and our level of obedience to what we read. It will also take inner strength and courage. However, we have one distinct advantage over the usual worldly solutions, and that is that God has promised to be with us wherever we go.

As we stand at the edge of our proverbial “Jordan”, take courage in the word of God where it says, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” ^xii

i Joshua 1:8-9 – New American Standard Bible