Expediency Of Factoring The Power Of God Into The Equation Of New Year Resolutions -By Isaac Asabor

One may not be wrong to conjecture that not a few people would be heard during cross over night by tomorrow, December 31, 2023, boasting across neighborhoods, particularly within rowdy pubs, and in churches, prayerfully vowing thus, “I am going to do this or that differently in the New Year”, with an assurance that goes thus, “And I mean it this time!” A guy would be heard swaggering, “This is my last cigarette as I will quit smoking from tomorrow” while another would be heard bragging, “From tomorrow, I will not drink beer again!”

Given the foregoing yearly sacramental disposition been exhibited by not a few people, it is germane to ask, “Who hasn’t set off with great intentions by each passing December 31, in the bid to start January 1 of the following year on a clean slate? “ Unfortunately, by the end of the first month however, things often seem to have settled back into “status quo” mode. So is there a solution to this “resolution riddle” and this New Year’s quandary?”

Without a doubt, there is solution. The reason for the foregoing affirmative response cannot be farfetched as the solution is found in the Bible, specifically in the power of God. When we approach this issue from a theological perspective, we begin to see things in a new light. And it is extremely liberating and empowering.

While pondering over the veracity of the foregoing facts, it is expedient to say that it is difficult to make an implementable resolution on every January 1 without factoring God into such move.

Again, it may interest you to know that most people are usually not successful in abiding by the resolutions they made on or at the end of the year, ahead of the coming year, for merely relying on their moral strength which not a few motivational speakers have dubbed to be “Power of positive thinking”. Without doubt, it is frustrating for people to be making resolutions year in year out without achievable inspirational record that can positively impact the lives of other people that find themselves in the same shoes.

To come to grip with the foregoing views, it is expedient to make reference to how Paul struggled in the bid to kick the habits he probably found to be unpleasant as recorded in Romans chapter 7 verse 19 to 25, where he lamented thus: “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

“So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[a] a slave to the law of sin”.

Resorting to sermonize from the perspective of the foregoing monologue, it is crystal clear that Paul was unarguably passing through stark frustration; one which only those that have by each passing year been struggling to stop unpleasantly nagging habit can identify with. The man struggling to kick an unpleasant habit no doubt is always agonized. As you may have known, agony comes from realizing that our lifestyles are not in agreement with that of societal expectations, and to a large extent, God’s law. So, it is frustrating to realize that those things which we as a people despise we find ourselves doing.

View from the perspective of the Christendom, those things which we as Christians desire we fail to accomplish. No matter how much we may wish to serve God in our minds, we find ourselves sinning in our bodies. As Paul describes his frustration in Romans 7, with his mind he desires to serve God. He agrees with the Law of God and rejoices in it. He wants to do what is right, but his body will not respond. He watches, almost as a third party, as sin sends a signal to his body, and as his body responds, “What would you like to do?” Paul finds, as we do, that while our fleshly bodies refuse to obey God and do that which we desire and which delights God, they quickly and eagerly respond to the impulses and desires aroused by sin.

At this juncture, it is expedient to advice that while it will be beneficial to take firm decision, resolve, act on New Year resolution in less than 48 hours from now; as at the time of writing this piece that anyone that wishes to make a New Year Resolution in anticipation of living a much better life come 2024 should resolve not to do what he or she shouldn’t do, and resolve to do what he or she should do. In fact, God doesn’t like us to leave our hearts to be irresolute. For the sake of clarity, it is expedient to say that the opposite of resolving is to be irresolute, indecisive.

At this juncture, it is expedient to opine that while factoring God’s power into the resolutions that would no doubt be made by not a few people in less than the next 48 hours, it is expected that while abiding by the resolutions made that some bible scriptures can be memorized on each passing day, recited and prayerfully internalized into hearts and the subliminal. 

Some of the verses are “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths”, and can be found in Proverbs 3:5-6, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” which can be found in James 1:5 and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, as can be found in Philippians 4:13”

Given the foregoing exegesis, one is compelled to ask, “How are you going to factor God into your New Year Resolutions as 2024 is around the corner? The foregoing question is crucial as most people fail to abide by the resolution they made on New Year eve as they tend to be self-centered. But if God is at the center of your resolution then there’s a much better chance of success.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask the following questions. “Are you ready to have a successful resolution in 2024? If yes, always listen to the word of God as they can be heard from churches and from virtual space, particularly as not a few clergymen are subscribed to various social media platforms. At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, while you are readily prepared to make a successful resolution, “Are you making time for him?” “Are you ready to listen?”“Are you spending time in his Word?”

Secondly, always pray and ask God for his guidance, wisdom, and strength. Praise him, from whom all blessings flow as well as serve to be God’s hands and feet in your community.

Most importantly, share your relationship with Jesus as your testimonies are powerful witness to your friends and family, even as what you think and how that translates to how you act are all ways to show God’s love to the world. The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched as it is okay to set goals to improve one’s life, but by improving the life of another, anyone might find his or herself transformed in the process.