Sticking To Your Resolution

RESOLUTIONS

Many people have trouble sticking to their resolutions, and there is a simple scientific explanation for this. In 1987, a team of psychologists conducted a study in which they monitored the New

Year’s resolutions of 275 people. After one week, the psychologists found that 92 percent of the people were keeping their resolutions; after two weeks, we have no idea what happened, because the psychologists had quit monitoring.

"We just lost our motivation," they reported. "Also, we found ourselves eating Twinkies by the case." And so a little humorous direction for your resolutions. One:

BE REALISTIC.

Many people give up because they "set their sights too high." In making a New Year’s resolution, pick a goal that you can reasonably expect to attain, as we see in these examples:

Unrealistic Goal: "I will learn to speak Chinese."

Realistic Goal: "I will order some Chinese food."

Unrealistic Goal: I will lose fifty pounds in a month.

Realistic Goal: I will lose one pound in the next twelve months.

Unrealisitic goal: I will join a fitness gym, gain 30 pounds of muscle and run a marathon.

Realistic goal: I will look at a picture of a gym or give 100% and drive by a gym and think about what it would be like to be in great shape.

Unrealistic Goal: "I will read fifty good books."

Realistic Goal: "I will examine the outsides of some good books, then go over to the part of the bookstore where they sell pastries."

Purpose: The purpose of this message is that you might understand, the power of resolve, what it takes to make resolutions, stick with them and make one that will change your life for all of eternity.

Resolution defined: The state or quality of being resolute. A course of action determined or decided upon. Resolute means firmness or determination.

Examples of different individuals being resolute.

KING DAVID WAS RESOLVED.

Psa 17:1 A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer-- it does not rise from deceitful lips. May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. As for the deeds of men-- by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped. I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.

Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover. Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword. O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. And I--in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

There was a time in David’s life that he had resolved, he had a firmness, a determination that his mouth would not sin. He mentions that his prayer is not deceitful. So David had made a resolution that his mouth would not be deceitful, no cursing, definitely no blaspheming of Gods name. How did he do that? My steps have held to your path. What does this mean?

Psa 119:1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.

They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.