The Best New Year's Resolutions

Are you planning to make resolutions this New Year's? Why not base them on some of the declarations that are recorded in Scripture? Check out these biblical resolutions.

1. Resolve to inquire of the Lord.
King Jehoshaphat was told that a vast army was coming to make war against him and his country of Judah. But before he ever rallied his troops or formulated a battle plan, "Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah" (2 Chronicles 20:3). The people gathered together and Jehoshaphat prayed earnestly before the entire group. He ended his prayer by declaring to the Lord, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you" (2 Chronicles 20:12).

Undoubtedly the year ahead will, for many of us, bring about situations for which we have no answers. Regardless of what struggles lay ahead, we can take comfort in the fact that our God sees our need (Genesis 16:13), hears our cries (1 John 5:14), and knows us intimately (Psalm 139:1). He is never caught by surprise or left without a plan. When we don't know what to do or where to step, we can resolve to inquire of the Lord and fix our eyes upon him as Jehoshaphat did.

2. Resolve to guard my mouth from sin.
This second resolution is a challenging one. In Psalm 17:3, King David resolved that his mouth would not sin. Can you think of any words that you said this past year that you wish you could take back? Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." It's a lofty goal, but even if we fail from time to time, just imagine the impact we can have on the people around us if we'll choose to say only those words that build or benefit others.

3. Resolve to guard my purity.
The Old Testament prophet Daniel resolved to keep himself pure. When Daniel made that resolution, he was surrounded by a culture that was replete with idol worship and completely opposed to the standards of the God of Israel. "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).

Sadly, our society is growing more and more opposed to the standards outlined in God's Word. We're bombarded by images on our televisions or movie screens that threaten to desensitize us to evil, immorality, and violence. But Paul warned us in Romans 12:2 not to "conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We're to be distinctive and committed to purity. We can't always control our culture, but like Daniel, we don't have to allow our culture to control us.

4. Resolve to keep Jesus as my primary focus.
Paul sums it up best in his resolution to keep his focus on Jesus. As Paul reflected on his ministry in the city of Corinth, he said, "For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2, AMP).

It was Paul's passion to keep his focus wholeheartedly on being acquainted with, displaying the knowledge of, and being conscious of our glorious Savior. What greater resolution could there be?

Make this year the year to keep your New Year's resolutions. Write them out and display them where you'll see them daily. Pray often and confess when you fail. And may you have a blessed and resolute new year.

Mindy Ferguson is a freelance author.

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