Yes, I know the title of this post uses a word that is not a word. But that’s the only thing that came to me at 3:30 this morning, and you know how that goes — once a thing like this is stuck in your head, it’s … stuck. You can’t seem to clear it out to make room for new ideas. So we’ll just have to live with that title.

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, I am — to use a phrase from James — a double-minded woman. I tend to scoff just a bit at this yearly practice, knowing quite well what happens to most promises made just because the calendar says January 1.

And yet, precisely because the calendar says January 1, most of us do find ourselves thinking about new beginnings, a fresh start, and new hope.

So just as James’s double-minded person is blown to and fro like wind-driven waves of the sea, my own January 1 practices have been inconsistent and contradictory. In the past, I’ve sometimes said, “Nope, no resolutions. That’s useless.” But I have also sat down on New Year’s Day with six friends and written out my goals for the year. Then we tucked away our lists, read them again after 365 days, and reported on our progress. Now that’s accountability, right? Don’t be too impressed … items on my list have been “carried forward” for about three years now … 

So if you’re going to do this New Year’s Resolutioning thing, may I suggest a new and improved way? Actually, it’s not my idea. I’d only like to point you to Marc Kinna’s post on Letters of Truth and recommend that you write your own letter as he suggests, letting the Holy Spirit help you.

“Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”
       — Jesus

I think this is the key to all we do. Our human efforts produce human results … and those often are not impressive or pretty. The wind of the Holy Spirit blowing through our lives, though, leads us into truth, produces fruit we might think impossible, and births life within us.

Try writing a Letter of Truth today. I did, after reading Marc’s post yesterday, and tomorrow I’ll share with you how the Spirit startled me. 

Blessings in your New Year.

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Scripture: John 3:6 (NLT)

P.S. Thank you, Marc!