“New Year’s Resolutions are silly really. We all know that. There’s nothing about a new year that promises personal renewal. It doesn’t offer a new strength of will that we didn’t have before. Ultimately the new year is not a symbol of possibility but of futility. Life is frustrating. Progress is hard. Our aspirations far outstrip our ability to achieve them. And, not to be too blunt about it, but we all die in the end anyway. Why bother?
Christians shouldn’t make New Year’s Resolutions. We should make Resurrection Resolutions instead. In a sense this is what all Christians should be doing anyway, but let’s make it an explicit part of Easter. Tell your neighbour that you don’t make New Year’s Resolutions but that you make Resurrection Resolutions instead. “What’s that?” they ask. You answer: “it’s like New Year’s resolutions, except it isn’t futile. God promises that through the power of Jesus’ resurrection we really can change. It’s not all up to me anymore.”