When a new year comes, we are usually tempted to make a list of resolutions: exercise more regularly, save more money, be more disciplined, or spend more time with family. There is nothing wrong with that. But have we ever asked, “Is this what God wants from me?” What if this year, we do not merely make resolutions, but replace resolutions with obedience?
Obedience is not an annual trend, but a lifelong calling.
Many Christians set spiritual intentions such as being diligent in quiet time or serving more faithfully. But when the excitement of the new year fades, those commitments fade as well. Why? Because the focus is more on ourselves than on God. Yet what God wants is not your promises, but your heart that is willing to obey. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
What Is the Difference Between Resolutions and Obedience?
Resolutions often center on what we want to change. Meanwhile, obedience centers on what God wants to change in us. Resolutions are human effort. Obedience is a response to God’s will. When we obey, we follow God’s direction, even if it is uncomfortable, unpopular, or not in line with our personal plans.
For example? Abraham obeyed by leaving his country without knowing where he was going (Genesis 12:1-4). Mary obeyed by accepting the task of bearing the Messiah even though the risk was great (Luke 1:38). They did not know all the answers, but they knew whom they had believed.
This Year, Focus on Three Acts of Obedience:
- Obey to stay where God has placed you, even when you want to leave.
- Obey to change, even when the process is uncomfortable.
- Obey to trust, even when you have not yet seen the result.
God is not looking for people who are “productive,” but for those who bear fruit. And fruit only appears when we abide in Him and obey Him. “I am the vine, you are the branches… He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5).
This year, do not chase a long list of resolutions that are easy to forget. Pursue one thing: living in obedience to God. He does not demand perfection, but a surrendered heart that is willing to be shaped. Even if your steps are small, as long as they are in obedience, God will bring about great results.
So… are you ready to replace resolutions with obedience?
