A New Resolution: I'm Determined to Do It Myself...with Some Help!

Well, here it is another new year! New beginnings, they say. New resolutions, many of which will be broken before the month is past.

Have you made any new year’s resolutions yet? Or have you given up on making them this “late” in the year? I’ve gotten to the point in my life that I no longer make resolutions. I break them! So on January 1, I haven’t made any resolutions because I haven’t made a workable plan for any of my goals or desires or am not motivated to do it by myself.

Over this past holiday season, I went to a friend’s home for a Christmas party. I had known Wanda over 15 years ago so I enjoyed catching up with her and her husband, Paul, at this party . In our casual conversing, Paul, a very friendly, excitable and energetic man, mentioned in passing about the “fun run” he had participated in that very morning. He was telling me about a few of the runs and races that he had participated in recently.

Oh, his stories brought back memories! When I was in college and graduate school I enjoyed running in several 10k races (10,000 kilometer/6.2 miles, I believe). I reminisced to Paul about those “good ole days”. Then he exuberantly exclaimed, “There is a 10k run coming up in April! Are you gonna run in it?” Well, of course, I started to say, “Oh, no! I’m way too old and out of shape to attempt that!”

But something stopped me. Instead of “no”, my uncharacteristically impulsive response to him was, “Why not! Yes! I’ll do it!” I think I can do it! I know I can do it! I’m determined to do it. I’ve got three months to get into shape. I’d feel such a sense of accomplishment just finishing something that I was able to finish twenty years ago!

O.k., so now that I told him I would run in the race, I am accountable to keep my word! But can I keep my word?

I went back home to my friends and family and half-heartedly told them, “Guess what I’m gonna do? I’m gonna begin training to run in the 10k in April!” And they all thought that was just great! In the back of my mind, however, I was thinking, “I hope I can follow through with this now that I told them!”

But a funny thing happened as I hesitantly began to tell my friends and family of my new resolution. My friends began to brag on me to other friends and tell them what new resolve I had made. I couldn’t believe how excited they were for me. You would think that I’d be excited about them telling others. But do your realize what they were doing to me? They were making me even more accountable to complete the mission that I had impulsively committed myself to.

So, therefore, I had a decision to make. I had to decide whether I was going to let them and myself down by breaking my resolution, or decide to apply my determination and experience and discipline in order to accomplish a desired goal…for myself and for my friends! Was I going to sabotage my goal with excuses and lack of discipline, or was I going to allow their excitement to help motivate me toward my goal? I chose the latter! Let’s go for it!!

So, now I’m in training. And so far, I’m sticking to it. Why am I sticking to it? Primarily because my friends are continually asking me about it and because I have a plan of action that will push me toward my goal. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that I’m seeing small signs of progress in this short period of time. I’m beginning to believe that this goal can actually be accomplished! I’m so excited about it!!!

Thanks, friends!!! You’ve helped me to get started on this adventure, you’ve encouraged me to continue, and I’ll need you to support me to the finish line!!! Together, we’ll finish strong!

So what challenging race would you like to attempt this year? Are you doubtful that you are able to finish strong on your own? If you really would like to succeed then let me suggest telling someone else about your desire and goal. In fact, tell more than one person. Who knows? Maybe one of them may decide to actually join you in the race. Let their accountability and excitement for you help motivate you toward the finish line! You don’t have to run the race alone! Two are better than one!

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls the one will lift up his companion But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9,10

**********

FEATURED RESOURCE

Tired of Trying to Measure Up
by Jeff VanVonderen

Tired of Trying to Measure Up is written for Christians who live under a deeply ingrained code of written and unwritten expectations and rules that shame them and drain them of spiritual strength. This is a book to help you unmask the lies that keep you on a works-righteousness treadmill, to help you discover the liberation of the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ and the rest that comes through what Christ has done on the cross.

Click here for more info

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page