At the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one, people worldwide begin to make their resolutions, more popularly known as “new year” resolutions. Unfortunately, even though they usually start the year with much zeal and enthusiasm, their initial commitment fades over time, and by March or April, all these resolutions are forgotten. While it is perfectly fine to create resolutions mid-year or mid-month, persons rarely do this, and so the opportunity to salvage these resolutions mid-year passes.
One sad truth is that the spiritual ones are often the first to be cast aside among these resolutions. This may be because the results of spiritual resolutions are not always tangible, and as such, motivation runs out quickly. Using our Amen app, we aim to highlight some practical suggestions that will support the creation and achievement of your spiritual resolutions.
Proper Planning
As you decide to create spiritual resolutions, it is essential that you plan. If you fail to plan, you have already planned to fail. Proverbs 15:22 tells us, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.” You must deeply process the reason for your resolutions, and in every case, the overarching purpose should be to gain a deeper relationship with God.
You can then choose a theme for your resolution, for example, the theme of Gratitude. You may choose this theme because you feel that you are too much of a “complainer” and need to develop a grateful spirit. As you plan, you then outline simpler tasks that will help you to achieve this resolution. These may be daily tasks or weekly tasks, but they must be detailed and recorded.
Prayer
Even as you plan, this must all be done very prayerfully. Seek God, bare your soul to him and let him know where you feel a lack in your spiritual walk. Read his Word and then inquire what you need to do to improve your connection to him. He will respond and show you his will. Jeremiah reminds us “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) If you express a prayerful desire to be a better person through Christ, he will grant you the requests of your heart. Philippians 4:6 tells us: “ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Use His response as a guide in the creation of your spiritual resolutions.
Intentional Execution
As with every other goal, you have to be very intentional as you seek to achieve your spiritual goals. You have to make the necessary effort. You would have already put some structure in place from your planning, and now you will have to be deliberate about following that structure. This may require notes in your diary, prompters on your phone, alarms and reminders, or even accountability partners, but you have to be committed. Many times we become easily discouraged. The truth is that once you set your heart to follow God, the devil will seek to demotivate you and to cause you to fail.
We read in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” In order to achieve these resolutions, we have to adapt the listed attributes; we have to be vigilant and persevere in our pursuit of these spiritual goals. Commit them to God and seek his strength because you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.
Community
You may have heard the saying, “teamwork makes the dream work.” The same is true for resolutions. Your community may be your best friend, or family, or an entire church. Sharing your resolutions in a community and mutually holding each other accountable is a sure way to achieve these spiritual goals. Knowing that someone else is also seeking a closer walk with God motivates you and encourages your spirit as you journey together.
Evaluation and Review
If you feel your motivation waning and your spiritual zeal decreasing, do not hesitate to stop and evaluate your resolutions. Whatever happens, do not give up. If you falter and you miss days or even weeks, stop and refocus. Assess your reason for failing. Is it because the resolution was not very practical from the beginning? Are the tasks too unrealistic? Is this what you need to be focusing on at this time in your spiritual journey? Did you overlook an area in your life that is in greater need of improvement? In Proverbs 19:21, Solomon wrote, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
As you prayerfully analyze these questions, be open to review and rewrite your spiritual resolutions, even if it is mid-year or mid-month, or even mid-week. Accept that you may not have gotten it right, or better yet, God has a plan for you that will better fulfill his purposes. There is no mandatory start date. Focus on the quality of your resolutions and make them manageable. God is not too hung up on quantity; He is more concerned about the quality of your life and relationship with him and your fellow men.
Reward
As you endeavor to achieve your spiritual resolutions, spiritual blessings are sure to follow. “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:2) You will see, and you will feel the blessings that come from a closer walk with God. Interestingly, the closer you get to Him, and the more you get to know Him, the closer you will want to be, making your resolutions even easier to achieve. As you seek to accomplish your spiritual resolution, remember that God has gone to prepare a place for you, where you will be able to dwell with him forever. Now, that is the ultimate motivation!