Most of us have made New Year’s resolutions before. It follows that most of us have broken those resolutions shortly thereafter. Why do we do such things? Why do we wait until the beginning of a calendar year to commit to eating less or working out more? Perhaps it’s because we like new beginnings; there’s no start like a fresh start. We hope to use the momentum of a new year to drive us toward making changes in the way we behave. Considering how successful most resolutions actually are, you would think that we might stop to consider a different strategy.

Let me suggest that if you wish to make a resolution, consider the one Jesus offers in Mark 8:34: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Unlike the vain promises we make to ourselves on New Year’s Day, this resolution is permanent. It’s not a call for behavior change; it’s a call to complete, lifelong surrender. It’s not a blind hope that we might find the strength to improve ourselves; it’s a firm belief that the Holy Spirit will transform us into the likeness of Jesus.