I think I have mentioned before that I do not make resolutions. I rarely am able to keep them – often I don’t remember them by month’s end. My intentions are good but resolutions become a source of defeat for me reminding me of my weaknesses. So I decided to give them up!

That does not mean I let the New Year come in without notice! We all like new beginnings and fresh starts. But are they really new and fresh? No. We are the same person on January 1st as we were December 31st. We’d like the intervening night to transform us magically somehow. But it doesn’t and we wake up January 1st with the same body, same habits, same issues…same ol’ same ol’!

I hope that is not a “downer” for you! Expectations get us in trouble. Be forewarned. Have them at your own risk!

However, let me suggest different kinds of resolution…ones that will free you and cause you to grow.

I heard someone say this year that “the most important person in your life is the one you have not forgiven.” That is profound – and true! So make the decision to forgive the one person. Forgiveness is a decision and once we make it God will inhabit that decision and enable us to do it. It isn’t immediate. It takes time. You see, forgiveness is a decision then a battle! Usually battles take time – they are not won quickly. And forgiveness does not depend on the other person – you can forgive them if they are dead or if they never come to ask for it. So make the choice to forgive.

Or make the choice to change your thinking. Is there someone or some situation that bugs the stew out of it. Maybe you were wronged and you go over it again and again in  your mind. You replay the conversation in your head. This is the stuff you think about in the shower almost every day. It just bugs you. It will age you and make you a bitter person. Well, decide to change your thinking. I have a little sign posted on my computer monitor: “Blessing Not Bitterness”. There are things and people in my life that just bug me – a lot. So I have decided to pray blessing into their life rather than poison mine with bitterness. That’s a good tradeoff!

Or make the decision to become more grateful. Keep a “gratitude journal”. Each day write one thing in it for which you are grateful. It will change your outlook!

These are internal decisions – no one will know – except you and God. But they will impact your life and consequently, those around you. There will be setbacks but they are not permanent. You haven’t “blown it” – you are a work in progress. Give yourself grace – God does!

Think about it and pray to ask God to show you what decision you need to make for the New Year.

God bless you in 2015!