Are you making a New Year’s resolution? Popular ones include: weight loss, exercise, getting back to church, and reading the Bible.

One fellow kept a record of his resolutions year after year. Here’s a sample:

Resolution No. 1:
2009: I will get my weight down below 200.
2010: I will work out 3 days a week.
2011: I will try to develop a realistic attitude about my weight.
2012: I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.

Resolution No. 2:
2009: I will go to church every Sunday.
2010: I will set aside time each day for prayer and meditation.
2011: I will go to church as soon as possible.
2012: I will try to catch the late night sermonette on TV.

Resolution No. 3:
2009: I will read through the entire Bible.
2010: I will read all four Gospels.
2011: I will read the church bulletin.
2012: I will pay attention to church signs on the highway.

How about you? Do your resolutions fall apart like this fellow’s did? The problem that most of us have with New Year’s resolutions is not that we lack a plan, but that we lack the motivation and will power to see them to completion.

Did you know that the Bible gives us a weight-loss and exercise plan? It is found in Hebrews 12:1-2: “...let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus...” You see, the secret is keeping our eyes on Jesus. If our focus is on ourselves, we will fail. But if our focus is on Jesus, we will succeed. The way he lived inspires us, the way he died on the cross for our sins motivates us, and the way he rose from the dead gives us hope.

Don’t use the slogan, “I can do it,” because you can’t. Use the slogan, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), because He can do it through you.

Happy New Year!

(Copyright 2011 by Bob Rogers. Email: brogers@fbcrincon.com. Read this column each Friday in the Herald. Read old “Holy Humor” columns by visiting www.fbcrincon.com and clicking on “Holy Humor.”)