Many New Year's resolutions are based in what others see.

We have to come to a place of dissatisfaction with where we are, in order to change. We must WANT to change!

When we become aware of better conditions, that causes us to desire change.

There are good changes and bad changes. The bad ones are born of our fleshly desires (which need to be crucified daily), and the good ones are born of the Spirit of God. These changes from the Lord, are lasting and mold us into the image of Christ.

We cannot change without God's GRACE!!!

And God gives grace to the HUMBLE. To those who recognize that they need His help.

We need God's Word in order to make right decisions.

And we need the Holy Spirit. He is our Helper. First, He shows us where we need to change, He shows us our inability to do it, and then He shows us God's great ability to DO it for us!

Philip. 3:7-15 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. [8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And be found in him, NOT having mine OWN righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; [11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. [12] Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. [13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this ONE thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Our only resolution should be like Paul's--to know HIM (Jesus). We need to keep this as our priority. Be single-minded about the future. He said,"...this ONE thing I do."

And we need to be close-minded to the past. If we look back we cannot have our eyes on the goal. And Jesus is the goal! "Looking unto Jesus, the author (beginner) and finisher of our faith."