Friday, January 2, 2015

The Importance of Resolve

One of the most important lessons I've learned as a father/husband/man is the importance of having resolve...being a man of resolution.  It is only these last 6 years or so that I came to realize just how important it is to make resolutions throughout my life.  Like many people, I used to wave off the notion of the "New Year's Resolution" with all kinds of reasons excuses to back it up: "It's too mainstream." "It's setting yourself up for failure." "It's so arbitrary." "I don't need to make a resolution to make a positive change."  The truth underlying those arguments was that I was simply too weak, fearful, and lazy to resolve to do much of anything.  Thankfully, I was convicted to do something about it before that weak spine allowed me to sway into trouble.

From artofmanliness.com
It doesn't matter when you're reading this, and it doesn't matter if you're making resolutions on January 1 or some other date.  The important part is that you are making a positive change to make yourself a better person.  In fact, if you are convicted that an area of your life is damaging and needs some resolution on your part to be set straight, set the wheels in motion to make that change right away.  It would be silly to continue down a destructive path just to wait for the new year.

Okay, so resolutions are important...where do I even start?


There is an economic concept called "path dependence" which basically says that where you end up depends on where you start.  So, just where AM I starting from?  Self-evaluation is a huge part of healthy development for an individual, just ask any modern psychologist, career counselor, coach, teacher, boss, etc.  This is not a new concept!  There are many places in both the Old Testament and the New Testament where we are urged to examine ourselves, a few I've listed below:

  • "Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord." (Lam. 3:40 HCSB) 
  • "I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws." (Psalm 119:59 NLT)
  • "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves..." (2 Cor. 13:5a ESV)
  • "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." (Gal. 6:4 NLT)

What, exactly, am I to be evaluating? What makes a meaningful resolution?


We see in the Bible that a person is comprised of three parts--body, soul, and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23).  This makes sense considering we are made in the image of a tripartite God. To be balanced, we need to feed each of these parts and nurture growth in them.  We also find that these three aspects of being overlap.  For example, discipline learned through exercise can also be applied to spiritual discipline.

  • The Body.  The physical part of us that can been seen and touched.  This is also, in my estimation, the part most often neglected by Christians.  The Bible, however, does point to the importance of keeping a sound body. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27a "Therefore, I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air.  Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control..." (HCSB).  In Proverbs we read "A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might," (24:5 ESV) and for the ladies "She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong" (31:17 ESV).
  • The Soul.  In the Bible, the "soul" generally refers to the mental capacities of a person.  It includes the emotional and the intellectual aspects of our being.  These are sometimes separated further, referring to emotions as our "heart" and intellect as our "mind".  We learn from Peter that knowledge is a necessary supplement to our faith to avoid corruption (2 Peter 1:4-6).  All of the Proverbs that Solomon wrote were to impart knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to his son (Proverbs 1:1-7).
  • The Spirit.  This is the eternal part of a person which is characterized by our spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-23) and is directly reliant on our relationship with God.  This spiritual fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) are not part of the psyche/mind/soul because they are not emotions or reactions.  These are attributes that do not stem from outwardly circumstances; they are affected by our tie with our Heavenly Father.  Through this connection we grow in this fruit.  We can strengthen this connection the same way we strengthen any relationship--companionship and communication.  If you want to grow in this area, you must:
    • Be with God.
    • Talk with God.
    • Be with and talk with others who are being with and talking with God.


Make "You in 2015" > "You in 2014"!


God will bless your efforts toward improvement if they are pointing back to Him.  If your body goals or professional goals (or even spiritual goals) are based in vanity or pride, there will be trouble on the horizon.  If your aim, however, is so that you can be a better representative for Christ then you've got a really, really good sponsor backing you!  Keep your priorities straight, be determined, have resolve!  And happy 2015!




I would love to hear what resolutions you have made for the new year or any other time! Need prayer or accountability to help you through it?  Let me know in the comments. Come like my Facebook Page!