Setting resolutions for the New Year seems to be a particularly American phenomenon with 37% of our fellow citizens setting some sort of goal. In Sweden, only about 12% make resolutions and that seems to be typical. We also are optimistic, with 87% saying they expect to achieve their goals.
What kind of resolutions do people make?
Here is the breakdown from a 2022 poll (keep in mind that many people make multiple resolutions):
Improved fitness (48%)
Improved finances (38%)
Improved mental health (36%)
Lose weight (34%)
Improved diet (32%)
Less common were things like traveling more (6%), meditating regularly (5%), drinking less alcohol (3%), and performing better at work (3%).
All of those are worthy goals, However, more than a third will drop their resolution within a few weeks. There are even unofficial dates for such failures like “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day” on January 17 and “Quitters Day” on the second Friday of January.
More importantly, apart from the 5% who wanted to meditate regularly, an effort to become more regular in worship and prayer is missing from the resolutions. I can’t think of a better resolution than committing ourselves to serve God and the church with our time, talent, and treasure.
John Wesley (an Anglican Priest) would hold Covenant Renewal services around the New Year. Here is a prayer that he used in those services – perhaps you will be inspired to make a new resolution of commitment to our God:
Almighty God, I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
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