The last time I checked, your body, mind, heart, and soul don’t get a new “update” on January 1st. In fact, I often wonder when this whole new year resolutions started.  By doing some quick research, apparently the Babylonians started this idea around 4,000 years ago.  Maybe they wanted an excuse to start fresh.  Perhaps they decided that the crops needed an extra boost.  Maybe they just wanted something different.  The tradition stuck.  In the 1700’s, John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, started the “Covenant Renewal Service” as an alternative to the traditional new year celebrations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for renewal, starting fresh, and second chances.  It’s just that I don’t think it should stick to just ONE day! Every day is a chance to start over.  The older I get, the more I realize that each day is an opportunity to impact others, change our lives for the better, and try something new.  In fact, why can’t January 3rd be just as powerful as January 1st?

My guess is that many of you have already blown your New Year’s Resolution and it has only been about 68 hours.  And you know what, that’s okay.  No one is keeping score but you!  If you are the author of your own story (and here’s a hint, you are!), the story doesn’t begin or end each year.  It started long before  you were born.  Stop and think with me for just a moment.  Do you realize that the likelihood that you were born to your parents and they were born to their parents is something like one trillion to one! Out of the billions of people in the world and the trillions of genetic combinations that could have been your grandparents or parents or you, there’s only one you!  Your story isn’t tied to  your resolutions, it’s tied to your heart and soul.  These are the same today as they were four days ago, and it is up to you to use them wisely.

A wise man once said, “God knew this day before He made me out of dirt.” (Derek Webb) If you are stressing about keeping a resolution because you think it’s the right thing to do, stop.  If you are wanting to keep a resolution because it is a conviction and a passion of yours that you know will impact others, keep it going.  When you mess up and fail, start again.  Forgiveness is always there if you will accept it.  Give yourself a break.  Let each day start fresh and remember the mercies of God are new every morning and they are offered to all!  Embrace them.  Embrace your heart.  Embrace  your soul.  Embrace your story. Live life and be the best you because that’s the story others want to see. They really don’t care too much about your New Year’s Resolutions.