A new year usually brings new commitments – commitments in the areas of health, occupation, relationship, finance, and spirituality. The cyclical arrangement of the calendar creates a setting in which we seek to purge past, negative practices and to adopt new, refreshing perspectives that will generally improve our personal lives as well as the lives those around us. As another annual process begins, we often approach it with a scintillating surge of enthusiasm, accompanied by bold statements of anticipation for a bright, promising and victorious future. In some cases, we feel virtually invincible, believing that nothing and no one can bar us from reaching our designated goals.

Such a new-year mindset has its advantages. First, it helps us to realize that current, unpleasing circumstances are not permanent – we can do something to alter them. Furthermore, it puts us in a better psychological position to accomplish our objectives if we clearly identify them and emphatically declare our intention to meet them. Such practices provide focus and inspiration, both of which are necessary ingredients in attaining some worthy aspiration. That is, New Year’s resolutions are not useless and therefore should not be dismissed as a waste of time. On the contrary, they serve an important purpose in the continuing process of shaping of our lives.

I would offer, however, a word of advice as we make our new-year commitments, and that advice is to make a commitment to commitment. That is, as we contemplate and assert our resolutions for this New Year, let us also make a conscious pledge to remain faithful to the commitments we make. Along with saying what we intend to do, we should also promise ourselves that we will do it.

Remaining committed to our resolutions is usually quite difficult. Obstacles such as, direct opposition, delay, lack of focus, fatigue, frustration, fear, and doubt often cause us to abandon some very worthy aims. When we encounter such hindrances, let us not forget the source of all of our help – the Lord (Psalm 121). Indeed, the One who never leaves or forsakes us can enable us to maintain a higher level of dedication to our commendable endeavors. Hence, at lease one of our prayers for this New Year ought to be: “Lord, help me to remain committed to my commitments.”

Pastor Parker

Pastor Parker