Alexandra Kulick
  • About Alex
  • Blog
  • Free Resources
  • Contact

Are New Year's Resolutions 'Christian'?

12/29/2017

0 Comments

 

Are New Year’s Resolutions 'Christian'?
 
Short answer: no
Long answer: kinda
 
See, "kinda" has three more letters than "no." 
 
Ok, but for real, New Year’s Resolutions have seemed to be popular since the beginning of time; it must have started with Adam and Eve or maybe Abraham? 
 
Close, the ancient Babylonians were thought to be the forerunners for New Year’s Resolutions some 4,000 years ago. They'd celebrate the New Year in March after planting the year’s crops and rededicate themselves to their gods and promise to do the right things.[1] You know the drill… Later, John Wesley would establish the idea of a Covenant Renewal Service to start the New Year by refocusing and rededicating oneself to God.[2]
 
After a service, Wesley remarked,
 
“I do not know that ever we had a greater blessing. Afterwards many desired to return thanks, either for a sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for a fresh manifestation of His graces, healing all their backslidings" (January 1, 1775)[3]”
 
But, covenant renewal is different than a New Year’s Resolution.  Our modern resolutions focus on ourselves, our goals, our weight, our success. Wesley and even the Babylonians used the New Year to focus on pleasing God/gods over themselves and their desires.  Instead of setting a resolution to lose ten pounds, use this time to set your heart on the Creator and tighten your walk with Him. When the vast majority of people have tossed their resolution list in the trash or just totally forgot about it, you’ll still be growing into the person God sees you as. His ways are much higher than ours anyway.
 
And if you still really want to write down some special resolutions, grab a pen, paper, and Bible. I'll help get you started:
 
“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, and strength,” Deut. 6:5
 
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isa. 41:10
 
“You are not your own; you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God with your bodies” 1 Cor. 6:20
​
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Col. 3:2
 
“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psa. 37:4
 
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt. 6:33
 
​"Love your neighbor as yourself" Matt. 22:39

​Let your 'resolutions' guide your heart and life closer to God each day of this New Year.

Christian New Year's Resolution
​     Wesley had a special prayer which was recorded during his Covenant Renewal Service, take a moment to read and reflect on his words:
​Creative God,
You make all things new in heaven and on earth. We come to you in a new year with new desires and old fears, new decisions and old controversies, new dreams and old weaknesses.
Because you are a God of hope, we know that you create all the possibilities of the future.
Because you are a God of love, we know that you accept all the mistakes of the past.
Because you are the God of our faith, we enter your gates with thanksgiving and praise,
we come into your presence with praise.
As we come to enter anew into covenant with you, remove any reluctance or falsehood in us. May all that we say, all that we sing, all that we think, and all that we do, bring glory unto you. In the name of the One who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
​[1] Sarah Pruitt, “The History of New Year's Resolutions,” History.com, December 30, 2015, accessed December 29, 2017, http://www.history.com/news/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions.
[2] Ibid.,
[3]John Wesley, “Wesley's Covenant Renewal Service," accessed December 29, 2017, https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/wesleys-covenant-renewal-service-greg-buchner-sermon-on-christian-disciplines-64795?page=2.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    top homeschool blogs
    Alexandra Kulick
    Follow @alexnkulick

    Alexandra

    is a writer & tired homeschooling mom of five.

      Stay in Touch!

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    Categories

    All
    Devotional
    DIY
    Faith
    Family
    Health
    Homeschool
    Nursing
    Pregnancy
    Publishing
    Recipe
    Review
    Supernatural Childbirth Testimonies

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    December 2016

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About Alex
  • Blog
  • Free Resources
  • Contact