From Resolutions to Results:
How a Clear Plan Beats Pure Will Power in
Achieving Lasting Change
Achieving Lasting Change
WRITER: Phil Bray; POSTED: December 19, 2024
Is there really a point to making a New Year’s resolution? I mean in all reality they last about as long as a gallon of milk in the refrigerator don’t they? Why are we so bad at keeping our resolutions and yet so determined to make them each year? We make the resolutions because we know that change needs to happen. Whether we are talking about weight loss or spiritual growth we know that our current state is not healthy. That is why we make a resolution.
Yet, here is the problem. All we do is make the resolution, relying on our will power alone to accomplish the goal. A resolution really is a goal. The reason for failure in accomplishing that resolution is a clear, simple, and measurable plan of action to bring that goal into reality. We make a goal to lose thirty pounds without clarifying how we will go about doing that. We wake up that first week and just wing it by going to the gym and implementing an extreme diet. Unrealistic expectations and massive behavioral changes without sufficient preparation and training result in a breakdown of will power after a couple of weeks.
You cannot just decide to go run a Marathon one day and then simply exert enough will power the next day to do it. I’ve heard Dallas Willard say in a sermon that what you cannot do by direct effort (will power) you must train yourself to do over time. In His book The Divine Conspiracy he wrote, “A discipline is any activity within our power that we engage in to enable us to do what we cannot do by direct effort.” (Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, pg. 353).
Many of our resolutions are similar to the goal of running a marathon. We want to see significant change in our lives and believe that by setting the goal and exerting the will power we will make it happen this year. History and experience teach us otherwise. Our resolutions will fail. May I suggest a different strategy this year? The Scripture says, “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Tim 4:7-8). We are called to “discipline” ourselves, that is “train” ourselves for godliness or physical health. He is urging us to make daily habits that will in time produce godliness of character and physical health.
Set a goal, make a resolution. I would encourage you to not set more than two or three of these for 2025. Now, sit down and think about what kind of training you would need to put yourself through in order to accomplish that goal. What kind of training needs to occur mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically in order to produce the ability to do the resolution you desire. If you were going to run a marathon it requires a specific training regimen of daily activity designed to produce in you the ability to do what you cannot do by direct effort alone.
Make an action plan of specific, concrete, and daily activities that will “discipline” or “train” you to be able to do what you want to do in 2025. The training regimen needs to be specific and clear. It needs to be something you can do by direct effort over a long period of time which will increase your ability mentally, physically, or spiritually to accomplish the goal or resolution for the year. Ask a friend or family member to evaluate your plan and make adjustments based on their knowledge of you. We tend to over estimate what we can do long term and underestimate what can be accomplished by simple, ordinary, and consistent discipline. Your friends and family members can provide valuable insight into your action plan. Finally, get to work. Training yourself requires effort, perseverance, and commitment. This is why I encourage you to start with one or two goals/resolutions for 2025. It is going to take time to get there. Be patient but be diligent and discipline yourself for the glory of God and your own good.
Yet, here is the problem. All we do is make the resolution, relying on our will power alone to accomplish the goal. A resolution really is a goal. The reason for failure in accomplishing that resolution is a clear, simple, and measurable plan of action to bring that goal into reality. We make a goal to lose thirty pounds without clarifying how we will go about doing that. We wake up that first week and just wing it by going to the gym and implementing an extreme diet. Unrealistic expectations and massive behavioral changes without sufficient preparation and training result in a breakdown of will power after a couple of weeks.
You cannot just decide to go run a Marathon one day and then simply exert enough will power the next day to do it. I’ve heard Dallas Willard say in a sermon that what you cannot do by direct effort (will power) you must train yourself to do over time. In His book The Divine Conspiracy he wrote, “A discipline is any activity within our power that we engage in to enable us to do what we cannot do by direct effort.” (Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, pg. 353).
Many of our resolutions are similar to the goal of running a marathon. We want to see significant change in our lives and believe that by setting the goal and exerting the will power we will make it happen this year. History and experience teach us otherwise. Our resolutions will fail. May I suggest a different strategy this year? The Scripture says, “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Tim 4:7-8). We are called to “discipline” ourselves, that is “train” ourselves for godliness or physical health. He is urging us to make daily habits that will in time produce godliness of character and physical health.
Set a goal, make a resolution. I would encourage you to not set more than two or three of these for 2025. Now, sit down and think about what kind of training you would need to put yourself through in order to accomplish that goal. What kind of training needs to occur mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically in order to produce the ability to do the resolution you desire. If you were going to run a marathon it requires a specific training regimen of daily activity designed to produce in you the ability to do what you cannot do by direct effort alone.
Make an action plan of specific, concrete, and daily activities that will “discipline” or “train” you to be able to do what you want to do in 2025. The training regimen needs to be specific and clear. It needs to be something you can do by direct effort over a long period of time which will increase your ability mentally, physically, or spiritually to accomplish the goal or resolution for the year. Ask a friend or family member to evaluate your plan and make adjustments based on their knowledge of you. We tend to over estimate what we can do long term and underestimate what can be accomplished by simple, ordinary, and consistent discipline. Your friends and family members can provide valuable insight into your action plan. Finally, get to work. Training yourself requires effort, perseverance, and commitment. This is why I encourage you to start with one or two goals/resolutions for 2025. It is going to take time to get there. Be patient but be diligent and discipline yourself for the glory of God and your own good.