’Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions – those fun commitments everyone makes every January 1 to set themselves up for a good year. Some of the more common resolutions are things like eating healthy, learning a new skill or joining a club.
While most are well-meant, New Year’s resolutions are typically abandoned within a few months … sometimes even sooner. There are even a handful of dates to commemorate the failures, like “Quitter’s Day” on January 10 or “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day” on January 17.
Even if you keep your New Year’s resolutions, it’s a temporary thing. Whether it’s for a week or a year or until your last breath, the longest impact it can have is a lifetime.
The best way to set yourself up for a good year is to set yourself up for a good eternity by making resolutions that will not only impact your life now, but your eternity with the Lord to come. Here are three resolutions you can work toward to set yourself up for a good year and a good eternity:
Eat Healthy
While the typical “eat healthy” New Year’s resolution focuses on eating foods that are better for you – which is a good thing, by the way – being truly healthy is so much more than that. That will get your body healthier, sure, but what about your mind and soul?
What you feed your body affects its health, and what you feed your mind and soul affects their health, too. Think about what music you listen to, what shows you watch, what books you read, what people you hang out with.
That album you have on repeat that makes you crave the party lifestyle that you know is not pleasing to God – that’s junk food.
That friend group that is always gossiping about others and convincing you to make bad decisions – that’s a big old greasy hamburger. It might taste good in the moment, but it is definitely not good for you long-term.
So, instead, feed yourself with the good stuff!
I like to run everything through the Philippians 4:8 filter: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
Learn a New Skill
Yes, you can take up crocheting or baking or woodworking. Those are all well and good, but wouldn’t it be even better to learn a skill that will impact eternity?
One of the best skills you can learn and put into action during your time on earth is sharing your story and God’s story so that more people can have a relationship with Jesus. This one’s not just a resolution – it’s actually a command from Jesus himself! In Matthew 28:19-20, the last thing Jesus tells his disciples before returning to heaven is to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
We can help you with this one! You can learn how to share your story and God’s story here, plus I Am Second’s parent ministry, e3 Partners, hosts Made to Multiply Trainings all over North America. You can find an upcoming training near you here!
Join a Club
Finding your people is huge in setting yourself up for a good year and a good life. You’ll likely make some friends at a book club or a pickleball league, but are they the kind of people who will encourage you in your walk with Jesus?
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.”
Commit to joining a group of believers who will disciple you, help you fall more in love with Jesus, and empower you to share your faith with others. That’s the kind of club that will bond people for eternity, not just for the duration of a book or a sports season. And, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I Am Second is rolling out a way to join this kind of community in the spring!
So, as you head into 2025, eat healthy for your body, mind and soul; learn the skill of sharing your story and God’s story with others; and join a community of believers who will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus. Focus on those resolutions, and you’ll not only set yourself up for a good year but a good eternity.