Resolutions Part 2 – POSITIVE Resolutions

Last time we spoke of resolutions to UNDO things in our lives – today the focus is on Positive resolutions – things you want to add or do in your life.

Would you rather focus on things you would like MORE of in your life?  Things like:

• spending time with family,
• reading more
• relaxing or dancing with your spouse
• calling friends or family regularly
• praying or reading the Bible daily
• exercising
• eating healthier 

These too can be accomplished no matter how busy your life with the 10 at a time plan.

1. Start adding 10 for a week.  Add ten percent more vegetables or fruit or 10% more steps per day. Or, add 10 minutes of praying, stretching, reading; memorize by reading one verse 10 times a day, or read 10 verses each day, read 10 pages, etc.  It is surprising the lift you can get just talking with someone for 10 minutes, reading or praying for that length of time, walking the stairs or stretching for 10 minutes, or setting a marker for 10 pages away, walking or reading during break and then getting back to work.

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It bears repeating from Part 1 of Resolutions:

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

What you think a lot about becomes actions and repeated actions become habit.  Those habits become your character.

A healthy addition to my devotions was to read Philippians 4:8 every morning for one month and to journal something I noticed that day that was

True

Right

Pure

Lovely

Admirable

Excellent

Praiseworthy

Whether your resolution is a do or an undo, it is helpful and refreshing to look at the world with hope and to recognize that God is working all around us.

When you have had success with the 10 minute plan for one week, you are ready to extend your commitment:  Here are some next steps:

1. Make the commitment for a month. 

2. Try to have an accountability partner who will check (and cheer) your progress.   If that is not possible, mark off each day on a calendar, or journal for 30 days. In 21-28 days a new habit is formed and you will find yourself looking forward to that 10-minute lift.

3. Plan a positive healthful celebration when you have completed a month on your commitment.  (Instead of eating a whole pizza to celebrate losing a pound a week, invite someone over to try a new healthy meal makeover)

4. Expand your plan to 15 minutes/pages/etc on a daily basis for one week, and add 1 day a week where you commit to 30 minutes.

5. Share your success with someone.    Often we only think of resolutions in a negative way – something we have to stop doing.  It can be a revolutionary change of thought to determine or resolve to start doing something – often something we WANT to do and wish we had the time to do. 

Make time and with God’s help you can make your resolution and 2011 a year of no regrets. 

Three Biblical examples of resolutions:

2Chr. 20:3 – Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

Psa. 17:3 –David said, “ I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.”

Dan. 1:8 ¶ – Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine

While a lot of people who make new years resolutions do break them, research shows that making resolutions is useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.