Summary Jake and Brett discuss how setting New Years resolutions is actually about growth in virtue. They share from their professional experience about how to make your resolutions become reality.

Guiding Scripture “When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51)

 

Key points

• Live as though when you wake up the enemy says, “Oh crap, she’s (he’s) awake.”
• Growing in benevolent detachment Is great for the way of the heart
• Discipline leads to freedom
• If you are working for and in the kingdom of God, you are under spiritual attack all the time
• “I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid” (Gen 3:10)
• Resolve is seeing something through to the end
• Roughly 8% of people actually carry out their resolutions
• Good resolutions are where our intention actually becomes reality
• Resolutions are good if they keep us focused on what really matters
• Resolutions will be require steadfastness and the journey is often better than the end - the journey offers immense value
• “Many people want the results of commitment but few are willing to pay the price”
• Resolutions cannot be rooted in comparison
• Resolutions are more successful when done with others
• Bring our possible resolutions to the Father in prayer
• Tim Ferris says to forget New Years resolutions and evaluate the last year
• Four areas of reflection (formation): human, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral
• Trying to accomplish something over 365 days is very hard
• A what without a when is a never
• Usually resolutions are vague and that’s not good to accomplish a goal
• Create SMART goals (Specific/Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time sensitive)
• Resolutions require and develop virtue
• We need to stretch a bit when we have a resolution or goal
• Maturity isn’t indolence but interdependence
• Writing goals down is valuable
• Setting quarterly goals might help because annual goals can be easier to avoid or forget
• “Grace is not opposed to effort. Grace is opposed to earning.” Earning is an attitude in relationship. (Dallas Willard)
• Grace builds on nature

 

Discussion Questions

• What struck you from this episode?
• When do you find your resolutions are most successful?
• In the past year, how was life humanly, spiritually, intellectually, and pastorally?
• What is a SMART resolution you might consider this year? Who can you share it with?

 

Resources

• Pause App
• Tim Ferris