According to a recent Forbes article I read, 37% of Americans indicate they're setting goals for 2024. I honestly thought that number would've been higher. However, it leads me to ask: Are you in that 37%?

Interestingly, the majority of the goals in the article involve fitness, nutrition, and weight loss. That part doesn't surprise me at all. Every December exit and January entrance, I hear people discuss these three resolutions as they're enjoying desserts "for the last time," they claim.

Let me admit before we go any further: in times past, I've also personally set goals concerning fitness, nutrition, and weight loss. On most occasions, my goals were only short-term and short-sighted. I started, but I didn't finish.

The article author writes: "If you find yourself in the camp of setting lofty goals for the new year only to find yourself falling off the wagon just months (or weeks later), rest assured you're not alone...The Forbes Health/One Poll survey found that the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months."

Why is that?

Why do we only make it months (or weeks)?

From own my experience, my resolutions didn't stick because they were goal-oriented instead of values-oriented. For example, I wanted to lose weight, but I didn't want to alter my lifestyle to accommodate the weight loss. I wanted to gain muscle, but if I went to the gym and didn't see effects in months (or weeks), then I became skeptical lifting was even helping - and I would just quit.

It's taken some time, but things are different for me now.

• I've come to the realization that I'll either rise or fall to the level of my habits.

  • If my habits are values-oriented and are built on who I want to become, then I'll take strategic steps to make changes.

• I also recognize that disciplines must be rooted in desired results. 

  • That's partially because motivation doesn't last. When I'm tempted to quit, I have to remember why I started.

• Not to mention, I see the necessity of confiding in another person about my habits, desired results, and disciplines.

  • I've learned the importance of having a friend group that supports my development. One article confirmed that social proximity inevitably turns us into our friends. Researchers discovered that people who hang around smokers or drinkers are more likely to smoke and drink themselves.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 describes God's incredible ability to:

• Direct our way, or guide our steps and habits;

• Make us increase and abound, or fill us to the point of overflowing with desires and disciplines; and

• Establish our hearts, or strengthen us from the inside out in "our" and "you."

Isn't it amazing that if you and I commit our way to the Lord, then God will assist us in our habits, desired results, and disciplines?

What really grabs my attention are the words "our" and "you" in this passage. The "our" is in the case of the Apostle Paul and his company and the "you" is better translated as "you all," or "all you Thessalonians." From what we gather, the Thessalonian church isn't small in number. In fact, Acts 17:4 suggests there's a multitude, an entire populace of Christ followers in that region.

In short, the Bible is implying with the "our" and "you (all)" is that no one is intended to walk with God alone. Of course, coming to Christ is yours and my individual decision, but it's not an isolated decision. When we were born again, we were brought into a family with a Father; and we have sisters and brothers. Sisters and brothers are designed by God the Father to come alongside one another; shouldering each other's burdens, staying in agreement together.

Back to the 37% setting goals in 2024 -

My resolutions, or perhaps I should say, values-oriented "revolutions," that will guide my habits, fill and overflow my desires, and strengthen me with your support are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-sensitive.

Have you noticed that it's either one day or day one, and that decision is entirely up to us as individuals?

• Instead of vaguely "growing spiritually,"

  • I'm committing to read and pray through the Bible each morning (5:00 AM);

  • I'm committing to pray in the Spirit for at least fifteen minutes every morning (6:00 AM); and

  • I'm committing to fast at least one day a week (TBD).

• Instead of vaguely "loving my family,"

  • I'm committing to bless my spouse with encouraging words each morning (6:15 AM);

  • I'm committing to pray with my spouse and children every morning and evening (7:30 AM, 7:30 PM); and

  • I'm committing to take my wife on a date at least once a week (TBD).

• Instead of vaguely "having fitness goals,"

  • I'm committing to only have small amounts of sugar on very special occasions, i.e. my birthday and wedding anniversary (11/23, 3/20);

  • I'm committing to work out at least 4 days a week (after work); and

  • I'm committing to drink a gallon of water each day (beginning at 5:00 AM).

One of the ways I'll practically ensure those value-oriented revolutions will be carried out:

• I have set a daily reminder 30-45 minutes before on my phone.

All that being said, I'll be in that 37%.

How about you?

Here's to being directed, increasing, abounding, and being established in 2024!