On New Year’s Eve, someone asked, “What is the difference between a resolution and a goal?” After thumbing through a dictionary, I found a “resolution” means to have “a firm determination to do something,” while a “goal” is “the purpose toward which an endeavor is directed.”

Most of us have less than a positive attitude toward New Year’s resolutions. Yet, although challenging, are they not tremendous benefits to us? Yes. They can be the impetus by which we reach our goals. They are stimulants for our systems which otherwise can get sluggish.

So, failed resolutions, although made sincerely, are not the problem. We are. For, upon sensing that we will not be able to hit our mark, we start feeling bad about ourselves, seeing this as certain failure, rather than an “alert light,” indicating a change is necessary in order to stay on target. Like a rocket reaching for its orbit we, too, will fall short if there is inadequate combustion (determination and faith) behind our thrust.

For sure, without commitment to go all the way with resolutions they fail. It takes being fully committed to our commitments, in order to launch the change we want.
Within spiritual counseling, I often ask people, “If you could do anything in the world you wanted, no holds barred, what would it be?” Most people can quickly answer, but their answers almost never match what they are currently doing.

When I ask them what stands in their way, an outstanding truth is always revealed. Dreams are only planted in the heart when the possibility of it being reached exists. It may take some significant planning—and sometimes even years of schooling, but there is always a way to stay on course, when one’s desire is strong enough.

Could it be that many of us move through time just letting life happen to us? Have we never truly reached deep enough to find out what we really want? Without believing in ourselves, we cannot move forward in our gifts in such a way as to bring glory to God to the extent this truly can happen.

The greatest problem for most of us is that we lack the ability to hear God and to choose to follow His lead. A determination to allow Him to lead our lives is powerful. And, God will give us the faith and the strength needed to put aside our doubts and choose to stay on course with righteous goals. Sure, most of us lack self-confidence, but a growing faith can kick that to the curb. God will do the work through us when we believe He is in the recipe.

What if we truly believe that we are Sons and Daughters of God, “created in the image of God”—the one who has given us our very breath? One who is able to place a dream in each heart, with gifts and talents enough to match it? The great Father of heaven looks about the earth with love, hoping to find His people happy, enjoying the world He has made. In many cases, we haven’t dared to discover the totality of our gifts.

Someone once said, “Nothing is work unless you would rather be doing something else.” True. Yet some parts of every activity are less enjoyable, so we will always have work to do. How much greater this world would be if every one of us could work mostly toward what we truly want to take place through us while here on Planet Earth.
God has created us with the capacity to dream, so undoubtedly He will be there for us as we move toward fulfilling those dreams. The issues that keep us from embracing the longings of our hearts come from self-doubt, a lack of trust that God can—and will—help us make commitments and reach our goals.

Is there any good reason why we cannot state what the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Believing this on a daily basis will greatly increase confidence and make it possible to maximize our abilities.

Surely we will always be happiest when we are in some way giving of ourselves. It is how God made us—loving to create, loving to help another. It is the key to “the ignition” of happiness.

So, let’s consider a New Year’s challenge before January is over. Let’s request God’s help in checking out “the inner blueprint,” asking “Am I doing what I truly want to do?” Then, if not, “What is stopping me?”

And let’s go for it! It’s not too late.