Resolutions. A new year. In today’s world, it is hard to imagine one without the other. After all, ringing in a new year sparks feelings of hope and anticipation for new beginnings. Unfortunately, according to the National Library of Medicine, most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions after only one week. Now, what do you suppose might happen if instead of making a New Year’s resolution, you make a new you resolution?
A New Year, A New You…Let’s Get Healthy!
Many New Year’s resolutions focus on self-improvement, including exercising more, losing weight, and so forth. Since we are effectively more than a week into the new year, now is the perfect time to establish a new you resolution with the overarching goal of a healthier you! That is why our focus will include all aspects of health: physical, mental/emotional, social, and spiritual. The one BIG difference this time, however, is our faith in the One will take the lead!
God’s Plan (or Resolution) for You in a New Year
Since we are each God’s unique creation, it should come as no surprise He knows the innermost longings of our individual hearts. As such, our Creator reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). How comforting to know God assures us each new year brings hope for our lives!
Just like the prophet Jeremiah recorded God’s plans for us in the Old Testament, Matthew the Apostle shares Jesus Christ’s message for us from The Sermon on the Mount. In it, Jesus states, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25, NIV) (bold and italics added for emphasis). Notice how Jesus acknowledges the importance people place on their diets, their bodies, and their clothes (including the size to which a person may aspire). These are the same areas people attempt to address when they make resolutions! Now, take a moment to reflect on the value Jesus places upon these things. Actually, not much (if any). Instead, He reminds us there is much more to life, which extends beyond our earthly existence.
Using Faith to Guide Your New You Resolutions
Who does not want to look and feel good? God wants that for us, too! Although, His reasons for improving our health may differ from our own. The goal is to align new you resolutions with those of the Creator. To do this, you must first know what He says about you.
Physical Health
King David recounts a mantra each one of us should (probably) adopt. He says, “I praise [God] because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14, NIV) (bold and italics). Did you read that? You are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator who brought into existence the heavens and the earth! Yes, you! The first step toward strengthening your physical health is to acknowledge you are a work of art, a true masterpiece, crafted by the One who loved you first!
Not only does God consider each of His creation positively priceless, Paul the Apostle reminds us of the true value of our earthly bodies. In fact, Paul writes, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV) (bold and italics added for emphasis). Did you catch all that? Wow! Just think, God loves and values you so much He dwells inside you as the Holy Spirit! Since God cannot reside in the presence of sin, He paid the cost for the forgiveness of your sins through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Therefore, since God made you, dwells within you, and saved you from your transgressions, your body is really not your own. This news definitely provides incentive to strengthen your physical health (thus honoring God with your body). Imagine the potential and power engrained in this type of new you resolution!
Mental/Emotional Health
As we just established, your body serves as a temple for the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the dawning of a new year provides a prime opportunity for God’s children to pause, reflect, and realign (if necessary) how we live with the fruit (or virtues) of the Spirit. Scripture teaches, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV). Think of how you would be nurturing the Holy Spirit within you by incorporating, and living into, this Scripture as part of a new you resolution!
You can do whatever you put your mind to doing. Has anyone ever said this to you? What about this one? If you don’t think you can, you won’t. Both are correct. Arguably, a person’s attitude not only influences their lifestyle but, quite possibly, outcomes in their life. Paul the Apostle would agree. In fact, he addresses the power of a person’s attitude in a letter to Christ’s followers in Philippi. Paul writes, “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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV). Essentially, Paul is saying positive thoughts and actions breed positivity and, ultimately, peace. What powerful, good news this is, especially in the midst of an ongoing, ever-changing pandemic!
Social Health
People want healthy relationships with family and friends. After all, having a strong support system is important for maintaining one’s social (and emotional) health. Am I right?! Fortunately, Scripture provides guidance on what God’s children can (and should) do to promote healthy relationships. In a letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul the Apostle writes, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Galatians 5:14, NIV).
Jesus in The Sermon on the Mount also speaks to creating an environment which promotes social health. He says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12, NIV) (bold and italics added for emphasis). Perhaps you have heard this sentiment referred to by another name, The Golden Rule. Exercising positive interactions with others also works in conjunction with the fruit of the Spirit, which we discussed in the previous section.
Spiritual Health
To illustrate how one can nurture their spiritual health, let us examine the life of Hezekiah during his reign as King of Judah. Scripture tells us, “This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:20-21, NIV) (bold and italics added for emphasis).
Notice what Hezekiah does. He keeps his focus on God, seeking Him in everything, and working faithfully with all his heart. A genuine example of spiritual health. What was the result of King Hezekiah’s God-centered living? A prosperous life. The good news is a prosperous life is not reserved for only those individuals from Biblical times. Not at all. Even in this contemporary age, God’s Word and promises reign true. Harkening all the way back to the beginning of this post, remember Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)? God says, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you [just like He did for King Hezekiah] and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” All you must do is seek God in all aspects of your life, and you can do this through praying, studying His Word, worshipping, and being in community with other believers.
Closing Thoughts and a Call to Action
Just because most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions after the first week, does not mean you should. Instead, how about approaching the dawn of a new year with hopeful anticipation? Instead of making a New Year’s resolution, flip things on their head and make a new you resolution! You have God’s support every step of the way!
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