Have a Babylonian New Year?

New Year’s Resolution or My Plan to Fail

   This is my least favorite time of year. The weather is cold and dreary, the trees are all bare and gloomy, Christmas is over and the nearest holiday is Easter. Now I feel the need to make decisions about the New Year. I am overcome with frustration.  The feelings of dread and failure have already set in and I haven’t even decided what my new resolutions will be.

   Here’s a little resolution history; the New Year’s resolution dates back to pre-Christian times. It was actually begun by the Babylonians and took place in March. This was a time that everyone resolved to return borrowed objects and pay their bills, hmm, sounds easy enough to me. Then along came the Romans who moved it to January in honor of their god Janus. Janus looked forward to the new and backward to the old. The Puritans came along and took it to another level. They decided this was a time to contemplate the future and not look back. To commit to put their talents to better use, treat their neighbors with charity and avoid habitual sins. Still not too bad, that feels achievable.

   Somewhere in time things went a little screwy and the whole “use your talents, pay your bills, treat your neighbors with charity and avoid habitual sins,” thing entered  a self improvement competition.  Statistics show that thirty five percent of people make unrealistic goals, thirty three percent don’t keep track of them and twenty three forget the goals even exist; I fall in with the twenty three percent. My “no sugar, lose weight” decision is completely forgotten when I see the left over chocolate cake on New Year’s Day. Only eight percent of people successfully keep those goals year round. That means ninety two percent of people fail; sadly I am counted among the feeble masses. One article I read suggested that I “aim low” that way I would actually reach my goal and feel the thrill of accomplishment, does getting out of bed and eating three meals a day count?

   Listed in the history of my own failed attempts are these; be more kind to others, eat less sugar, cut out caffeine, (no caffeine and no sugar cancels out any chance of being more kind to others so beware), lose weight, write every day, be more organized, read the Bible all the way through (sometimes I feel accomplished if I read it once a week) and learn a new language (slang or fun accents do not count). This is my sorry little “ninety two percent” list.

   This year I decided to run things a little differently.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Job 22:28 says’ “what you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.”

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

   I re-evaluate my list and place it before my only hope of being part of the eight percent, Jesus.

 You see, it's not a list but a life that is really at stake here. Every day I face failures and unmet goals. These so called blunders gnaw at my self worth and call me names like lazy, stupid or undisciplined. I end up comparing myself with those I believe to be successful champions and I give up altogether.

   I am so thankful for scriptures like Proverbs 16:9 (In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.) and Isaiah 28: 26 (His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.) 

   I rest confidently knowing it’s not all on my shoulders. His path is  best for me and when I choose it he provides the strength that I need to gradually build success in that area. There is a path of triumph and when I draw my strength and wisdom from him, I am victorious.

   What are your resolutions for the year? Are you willing to place them before the Lord and walk in his direction? His ways aren’t always the path we would naturally choose, but in them there are always strength, progress and fulfillment.