New Year’s Adjustments, Not Resolutions

Well, well, well….2011 has begun! I bet that many of you have made at least a few new year’s resolutions, with either excitement and enthusiasm, or dread and anxiety.

New Years resolutions have been taking place for over 3000 years, ever since the Babylonians started the practice. There is just something about kicking off a new year and ripping off the paper of a crisp new calendar, that brings on a little twinge of excitement and anticipation.

Each year, millions of people find themselves trying to figure out what they can do differently, and better, this year than last year. And every year, millions of people typically fall short in meeting those resolutions.

I thought I might try something different this year. Instead of engaging in the age old practice of setting myself up for disappointment when I fall short of meeting my goals.

So this year, I am making some new year’s “adjustments”, instead of new year’s “resolutions”. Lets look at the difference between the two:

resolution: a solution, accommodation, or settling of a problem, controversy, etc.

adjustment: harmony achieved by modification or change of a position

Hmmmm.. would you rather start out the year thinking about all your problems and what you can do to resolve them, or the things that might need a little tweaking to bring more harmony into your heart and life? As for me, I choose tweaking and harmony!

As we start out this year, what a great idea for us, as Christians, to think about the adjustments that God might be calling us to make in our lives, instead of simply focusing on the physical things that we are unhappy with or view as problems.

Most people typically make new year’s resolutions that affect physical things, such as appearance, weight, quit smoking/drinking, have better habits, etc. Since God does encourage us to care of His temple – our bodies – those resolutions are good.

However, God also calls us to consider the adjustments we can make with the intangibles in our life – such as our walk with Christ, living out our beliefs, and seeking wisdom and guidance from God in all of our daily decisions and goals.

Adjustments that if given the right focus, can have huge impact on our spiritual and physical well-being.

In Timothy 4:8, we read “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

It seems this verse is not saying that we should not care about our physical state, but that we should care about our spiritual state more. It encourages us to find balance, between making physical goals and spiritual goals.

As we set spiritual, Christian-oriented goals, I find it important to make sure that the motivation behind the goal setting is fueled by knowing that what I am doing is pleasing and glorifying to God, and not just myself.

So what “adjustments” is God calling you to make this year?

Regardless of whether He is calling you to make tiny adjustments, or huge adjustments, we can all rely on one specific verse in His Word for encouragement and strength to persevere.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Whew – not just some things… but ALL things! What a relief! God is so good. 🙂

Happy New Year!

1 Comment

  1. Michelle on Monday, January 3, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    Wow. This is a great post Tracie. For a while, God has been nudging me to spend more time with him. To learn more about him. I am constantly worried about my two daughters, house work, or other errands. I don’t quiet my head before i come to God so I leave his presence empty because I didn’t listen.



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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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