What is a resolution? In the context of the new year, it is one or several things you have set your mind toward accomplishing in the coming year. It is a firm decision, something that is not meant to waver under any circumstance. You may have heard it said January is the busiest time of the year for gyms. Many people resolve to "get in shape" and so they begin the year with a gym membership. They're faithful for a while, getting up early to make sure they fit that workout into their day. And then February comes. Suddenly the newness of the year--what brought the sense of confidence that they could live out their commitment--has worn off.
"Oh, well. There's always next year.
"Resolutions" have become more of an "I wish I could" list than an "I'm going to" list. They are no longer about commitment, but are decisions made with an opt-out clause. Instead of a covenant appoach there is instead a prenuptial agreement to a no-fault, no-strings-attached divorce should the individual wish to part ways from his new way of life.
Is that how you are with your spiritual life? Are there commitments you've made to God that said as long as you are comfortable, you'll stick with it? Then once the initial resolve of commitment wore off, or something "better" came along, or you missed a day or messed up one time, you just felt they weren't worth pursuing anymore? At least I tried. God will understand my excuse, right?
Maybe you decided to read the Bible through in a year. One missed day means there's twice as much to fit into your schedule. Before you know it, you're a week behind. Then a month. Why bother? The Old Testament is boring anyway. And I hear Revelation is so cryptic no one can really understand it, so what's the use in trying?
Maybe you determined to keep a prayer journal and pray daily for all the prayer requests you hear about at church. One problem. You're not a prayer warrior. I don't know these people, and trying to get through all the requests is more like reciting a shopping list than spending quality time with God. I don't see much happening, so I guess my prayers aren't getting to Him.
Whatever it was, it may have left you a bit hesitant to try again. Why set myself up for failure?
What if there were a way you could keep your commitment all year through? What if you could enter into that commitment without having to add conditions? What if that commitment might lead up to accomplishing something better than you set out to do? Would you be willing to at least try?
Here's the proposal: Start small and take it a day, a week, a month at a time. Then as you become faithful in the small things, you can make them a little bigger over time. No more pressure. Just a new way of looking at long-term commitments.
One financial guru champions what he calls snowballing debt. List all your debts. Start paying off the smallest first. When that is paid off, take the money you'd normally use for that debt and roll it into the next smallest. You're already used to living without it, so it won't be missed. Then, continue to do the same until everything is paid off. You may wonder, "Why start with the smallest and not the highest-interest debt?" Because momentum is being built with every success. If you pay off one debt fairly quickly, you get excited. A few months down the line, the next debt is paid off and before you know it, you're on a roll, actually looking forward to paying down debt and stretching to see if you can pay it all off even more quickly.
Why not do something similar with your spiritual life? Ask God how you might be able to use or adapt the following suggestions:
Pick a book of the Bible to chew on over a month's time. If you finish before the month is up, read up on answers to any questions you had. If you don't finish it, make it the book you read the following month as well. Or maybe it's so boring you've lost interest. Choose another book and come back when you're ready. If you choose a short book, give yourself two weeks and read it through more than once. Looking for something longer term? Try reading the works of a single author over a few months. Some scholars have spent decades devoted to Pauline theology and still learn from Paul's books after all that time.
Commit to choosing one prayer request a week. If others come to mind and you're compelled to pray, do it. As one request becomes easy, add another as you feel capable.
If you know you need to be telling people about Jesus, but you're uncomfortable just walking up to someone and asking them about their relationship with Him, try blogging about it. It's okay to start subtly with a little "God" here and a "pray" there. As you get comfortable with the little words here and there, challenge yourself with something less subtle. Stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone a little at a time.
A day of fasting can sound overwhelming if you've never done it, or if you have special health concerns. Forty days? Impossible! Try a half day fast just to give yourself a taste of what it's like. You may choose to do half day fasts on a regular basis or increase the length of your fasts.
Finally, don't give up. Consider Paul's example.
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