D\Dr. Roy H. Hicks, Pastor
Rancho Bernardo Foursquare Church:
My wife and I have experienced 60 years of marriage and ministry. During this time we have been present to hear many New Year's resolutions, spoken sincerely at the moment, in many celebrations at the beginning of another year. Many of them were "repeats" of the year before...which, if they had been kept, we would not have to be listening to them again. We read, in Ecclesiastes 5:4,5 (Amp): "When you vow a vow or make a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God has no pleasure in fools (those who witlessly mock Him). Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow then that you should vow and not pay." If one were to endeavor to seek for answers as to why so many promises that are made are not kept, I think there would not be space enough for all of the answers given. One of the best examples in the Bible of one who made a vow and kept it would be Hannah in I Samuel 1:11. "She vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid and (earnestly) remember, and not forget your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life, no razor shall touch his head." Please note that (1) She vowed to give back...and not just receive. (2) Her vow was a spiritual one...to bless the kingdom. (3) Most successful vows are selfish. God is not really addressed. (4) Many are not made in faith...only emotion. (5) Hannah was in communion with God because she fellowshipped and worshipped God. Don't vow unless you desire to follow through with all your heart...and unless the result will benefit more than just yourself.

Pastor Earl B. Mossembekker
Antioch Christian Church, Vista:
At New Year's, many people take stock of their lives and resolve to do something to improve it - lose weight, exercise, quit smoking, spend more time with family, or they decide to "Get right with God." But New Year's resolutions are only meaningful if you take action and do something about it. If you continue on the same course of action that got you into your mess, I can predict that you will wind up with the same results or worse - year after year. By putting on the mind of Christ, you can produce fresh ideas, find new options, make better decisions to develop new habits, and take on a "can-do" attitude that says, "All things are possible through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." Habakkuk 2:2, informs us to write the vision down, keep it in front of us and run with it. Philippians 3:14, admonishes us to, "Press towards the goal for the prize..." What is your prize? What is it you want to change? Go after it! You can do it! Don't quit! "In the end it will speak to you." Habakkuk 2:3 How meaningful are New Years Resolutions? Well, that's up to you.