One month ago about 100 million of us made some form of formal New Year resolution. It\u2019s time for a check-up.<\/p>\n
How are we doing? Any healthier? Are finances in order? Learned anything new? Any improved relationships?<\/p>\n
One month in to the year we should be seeing some movement. Of course, many \u2013 most \u2013 resolutions for change fail miserably. Why? Making real and lasting change \u2013 what the Bible calls \u201crepentance\u201d \u2013 isn\u2019t mystery or magic. Here are a few simple keys:<\/p>\n
Make intentions measurable and specific. If I need to lose weight, I can frame that objective as a concrete goal: \u201cI will weigh 185 pounds on March 8, 2010 and stay there until December 31, 2010.\u201d<\/p>\n
Writing goals works wonders. Psychologists suggest this exercise frees the left brain from asking \u201cwhat?\u201d and releases the right brain to solve \u201chow?\u201d I\u2019m putting goals into words here and now\u2026 You can do the same in the comments section below if you choose!<\/p>\n
Tell someone. Asking for accountability from someone we trust brings extra leverage to our commitments.<\/p>\n
Commit to a plan not just a goal. There might be several paths to reach your goal. Pick ONE and follow it!<\/p>\n
Formalize no more than five personal goals at any one time. Five is the capacity of our focus. Trimming my \u201cwishes\u201d down to five priorities is difficult but necessary if I\u2019m going to move beyond \u201chope\u201d to \u201cwill.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pray. Yes, pray. I realize up front that I\u2019m doomed to fail with all my plans to change myself. Yes, disillusion too is a necessary step, and with it a cry for help. Jesus once said, \u201cApart from me you can do nothing.\u201d In other words, all my intentions and plans AND commitments and disciplines Will in the end fall short. I\u2019m not strong enough or focused enough, even with all the right strategies. Yes, I can improve the odds of success, but I can never dodge Jesus\u2019 tenet: \u201cThe spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.\u201d One great spiritual teacher put it this way: \u201cI can\u2019t, you can, please do, thank you!\u201d That is the key to transformation\u2026 and resolution\u2026 I can\u2019t. Jesus can, through me. I can ask for that change, and then thank him for that completed promise.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, I want to change. I need to change. You made me for more than I am. But the truth is, I need more than my own resolve. I need you. I can\u2019t make the changes I must. Please work in me to lead me toward my destiny. Give me strength and determination and focus and the humility to ask you to work when and where I cannot. Thank you ahead of time for your strength to accomplish your purposes in me. In Jesus\u2026”<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One month ago about 100 million of us made some form of formal New Year resolution. It\u2019s time for a check-up. How are we doing? Any healthier? Are finances in order? Learned anything new? Any improved relationships? One month in to the year we should be seeing some movement. Of course, many \u2013 most \u2013…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":478,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[55,45,54],"class_list":["post-71","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-change-for-good","tag-positive-change","tag-resolutions","tag-transformation"],"yoast_head":"\n