There is an old Jewish story about a rabbi named Zusia.
One day Zusia came to his disciples. His eyes were red and swollen from crying and his face was pale.
“Rabbi,” one of his disciples exclaimed. “What is the matter?”
“I was thinking about death,” said Zusia. “I was thinking about what it would be like to stand before Almighty God. I realized that if God asks me, ‘Zusia, why weren’t you a leader like Moses?’ I would say, ‘Lord, you did not give me the leadership of Moses.’ If God asks me, ‘Zusia, why weren’t you a poet like David?’ I would say, ‘Lord, you did not give me the eloquence of David.’ But, if God asks me, ‘Zusia, why weren’t you Zusia? Why weren’t you all that I created you to be?’ I will have no answer for Him.”
Resolutions are so often about creating ourselves. They're about creating a stronger body or a slimmer waist, a larger bank account or a smaller debt to pay off, to stop smoking or to start reading.
There's nothing wrong with those sort of resolutions.
But, what if, this year, instead of resolving to create ourselves we resolved to discover what God created us to be?
What if you took the first step towards Him and began considering what a relationship with Him could mean for your life?
What if you asked Him to show you where your character needs developing that you might better represent and reflect Him?
What if you began exploring how He could use your unique personality and gifts and passions to impact the world?
Let's resolve that a year from now we will be more of what God created us to be.
I can think of no better resolution.