Did you make any New Year resolutions last year? Be honest – how many did you manage to keep? When we’ve not been able to keep all of them, we can get upset with ourselves and feel like we’re failures. But it’s difficult to make a lot of changes suddenly, all on one day, and expect them to stick. New Year feels like a fresh start – it’s a great time to introduce changes. If we do decide to make resolutions, let’s see ourselves as works in progress, improving steadily throughout the year. After all, they’re ‘New Year resolutions’, not ‘January resolutions’, or two-week resolutions’. So if you’re thinking of making any resolutions this year, here are a few things to bear in mind: 1) Most importantly, make time to ask God about your resolutions. Ask Him what changes He wants you to make in your life. Put Him at the centre of all your decisions. 2) Tackle one thing at a time. When we try to take on too much too quickly, we can lose focus and struggle to stick with our resolutions. 3) Start small. Take small, achievable steps towards your goal. Think about what you will do instead of what you won’t do. So instead of thinking something like ‘I’m not going to be so critical of others’, think ‘Today I’m going to look for something good in everyone I meet’ (take a look at Philippians 4:8). 4) Regularly self-check your progress. Look back and see how far you’ve come. The Bible says, ‘Throw yourself into your tasks so…everyone will see your progress’ (1 Timothy 4:15 NLT). If you haven’t got as far as you’d hoped, don’t worry; instead ask God to give you a fresh enthusiasm for your goals.

What now?

Remember last New Year’s Eve when we told you to write a letter to yourself? Open your letter. Thank God for all the changes and growth He’s working in your life. Now write yourself a letter for next New Year’s Eve.