It’s amazing the hope that a new year brings for people. It is a blank slate, a clean page and new beginning for many. Every year I continue to be astounded by the New Year’s resolutions people have. The most popular resolutions are as follows:

-Drink less alcohol

-Eat healthy

-Get a better education

-Get a better job

-Get fit

-Lose weight

-Manage debt better

-Manage stress

-Quit smoking

-Save money

-Take a trip

Unfortunately for the many resolutions made most people will not keep their resolution. One study says that out of 75% of people that make a resolution most failed their first attempt. While another study polled that out of 52% making a resolution only 12% kept their resolution.

            I have never quite believed in resolutions. The only resolution I’ve actually made was to run my first half marathon and that was because of coercion by a couple friends that wanted to do it too and I ended up the only one actually running a half marathon that year. The thing about the resolutions above is that while they are good goals they are not the real resolution that should have been made. They are good ideas but some have wrong motivation and others stem from other root causes that need to be addressed first.

            Resolve means to come to a determination; make up one’s mind; determine. It indicates that a resolution or a determination has been made as to follow some course of action. It is a firmness of purpose or intent, continued determination. Seeing as the word determination came up multiple times the definition of determination is the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose.

            One of my friends recently wrote to me and what she said really got me thinking. She had said that while resolutions are not her thing she had decided to make one and it’s the most important one, “And you must love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all your soul, and all your strength” Deuteronomy 6:5 Because if we get this down then we would love ourselves more and take care of our body, we would love our friends more and invest in our relationships, we would love people more and make more of an impact at our work places and in our families because the love of God would be flowing in and through us.

            So I’m yes and amening her resolution. Based on the brevity of the definition of resolve. When we resolve to do something it should not be something easily broken or changed because we have made and settled a purpose in our hearts to commit to it. This year commit to God. Resolve to do Deuteronomy 6:5. Determine this year to love God with everything you have. What if you did? What could happen if you settled in your heart to love God more, to chase after him and to give him everything you have?

Live Life Extraordinary,

Alayna