“How’s the resolution doing – you know, the one you made in January?” That’s a question many of us might cringe at, but it’s good to remind ourselves of Cavett Robert’s old truism. The character we build in following through on resolutions is often just as important as the resolution itself.
The Bible shows that God’s servants often made resolutions, and in each case these resolutions were faithfully carried out. Notice just two examples from the Old Testament and New Testament, Daniel and Paul: “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…” (Daniel 1:8); “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
In fact, the Bible shows that God Himself makes resolutions. Notice in the Book of Zechariah, where God says: “So I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah…” ( Zechariah 8:15 HCSB). Not only does God make resolutions that we can all be thankful He keeps, but also He reminds us of the responsibility to make and keep good resolutions:
“ ‘If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me’” (Malachi 2:2).
While this statement may sound negative out of context, God simply points out that we need to be firm in our resolve to do what we need to do. He knows that when we do not, we lose His blessings and, as a loving parent, He warns us against that outcome. That is why God’s word frequently stresses the need to give our full resolve to doing what we come to understand we need to do. That guidance can energize and inspire us to follow through.
While some minor physical resolutions may not have widespread effect in our lives, our major resolutions can have major effects on us, our marriages, our families and our relationship with God. So let’s remember the resolutions we do make and maintain them. The fact is, the more we follow through with our resolutions, the easier it will become to keep them.
God is certainly aware of what we resolve to do in regard to the way of life that He reveals to us, and He will help us follow through if we are serious and ask for His help. That is why the Psalmist could write, as confidently as he did: “I am resolved to obey Your statutes to the very end” (Psalm 119:112 HCSB).
