It’s that time of year again. Along with college football bowl games, year-in-review lists, and predictions for the year ahead, many of us find ourselves thinking about personal resolutions for the new year. The calendar turns, routines are disrupted, and reflection seems almost unavoidable.
But before we hastily grab a brand-new journal and fill its pages with ambitious plans, it’s worth pausing to ask a more basic question: Should Christians make New Year’s resolutions?
What Is a Resolution?
The first place to begin is with a definition. A resolution may be described as a settled intention to aim one’s life in a particular direction. Resolutions are usually goal-oriented and often reflect a desire for course correction in order to pursue a particular end.
At its core, a resolution involves thoughtful personal reflection—where we are, where we ought to be going, and what it will take to move in that direction. In that sense, resolutions are not merely about behavior modification. They are about intentionality. They force us to slow down long enough to consider whether our habits, priorities, and patterns of life align with what we say we value most.
How Is This Helpful?
As Christians, we’re not left to define the purpose of our lives for ourselves. Scripture gives us clarity here. Drawing together a host of biblical texts, the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism famously teaches that our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We glorify and enjoy God by living in joyful obedience to all that he reveals in His Word.
This calling applies to every area of life, not merely those we might place in a “spiritual” or “religious” category. The Apostle Paul puts it plainly: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). The goal is God’s glory and our joy, and the way we learn how to pursue both is by abiding in and obeying God’s Word (1 Cor. 10:31; Ps. 16:11; John 15:10–11).
In other words, Christians are not unsure about what we are meant to be doing or how we are meant to do it. God has not left us without direction.
Furthermore, Scripture regularly commends the practice of self-examination. Spiritual maturity includes a willingness to take stock of our lives—to submit ourselves to the searching light of God’s Word and Spirit. The psalmist prays, “Search me, O God, and know my heart . . . and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23–24). This kind of prayer assumes that course correction may be necessary, and that it is a mercy when the Lord shows us where adjustments are needed.
Regular evaluation and wise course correction are not merely permissible; they are commendable.
Closely related to this is the biblical emphasis on stewardship. We are taught to number our days because our lives are fleeting (Ps. 90:12; Ps. 39:4–5). This sober awareness is meant to produce wisdom, not anxiety. Because our time is limited and entrusted to us by God, we are called to make wise and faithful use of it: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time” (Eph. 5:15–16).
Scripture is clear that faithfulness is required of stewards (Luke 16:10; 1 Cor. 4:2). Time, opportunities, and abilities are not ultimately our own; they belong to the Lord. Thoughtful reflection about how we are using what God has given us is therefore not optional—it is part of Christian obedience.
Seen in this light, the kind of reflection that leads to a resolution—a settled intention to aim one’s life in a particular direction—fits squarely within a biblical pattern. Regular evaluation and wise course correction are not merely permissible; they are commendable.
Are There Any Cautions?
At the same time, as sinful people, we are remarkably adept at corrupting good things. Even practices grounded in biblical wisdom can be distorted. For that reason, a few cautions are in order.
First, we may be tempted toward mere self-improvement rather than genuine sanctification. Christian growth is not about becoming a slightly better version of ourselves, but about being conformed to the image of Christ by grace.
Second, we may approach resolutions mechanically, focusing on external behaviors while disengaging our hearts and minds. Obedience that is divorced from love and faith quickly becomes hollow.
Third, we may grow self-righteous—either because we have made resolutions others have not, or because we have managed to keep them longer than expected.
Finally, we may set unrealistic or overly burdensome resolutions that discourage rather than direct us. Instead of recalibrating our course, we may end up crushing our spirits.
Conclusion
Thoughtful, reasonable, and prayerful adjustments to our lives are wise. Scripture both prescribes and describes this kind of intentional reflection. For many, the turning of the calendar provides a providential opportunity to pause, evaluate, and recalibrate. While this is not the only time such reflection should occur, it is a fitting time to do so.
If this process results in a few well-considered resolutions that help orient your life more faithfully toward the glory of God, that is cause for gratitude.
So, should Christians make New Year’s resolutions? Certainly. It is as good a time as any to make needed adjustments. Must we? No. There is nothing inherently sacred about a new calendar. But there is something deeply biblical about getting back on track—and the new year may be the season the Lord uses to help you glorify Him and enjoy Him more fully with your life.
