Often, I’ve found, our so-called “resolutions” are little more than wishful thinking. We’d like to be different, and we wish we were different – but that’s as far as it goes.

A true resolution, however, puts our wishes into action. We may wish we’d lose weight, but nothing will happen unless we develop a realistic plan of diet and exercise, and discipline ourselves to follow it. We may wish we were a better parent – but nothing will happen unless we discipline ourselves to spend more time with our children and let them know of our love. The Bible warns that a wayward man “will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly” (Proverbs 5:23).

But this isn’t the only problem. We can make noble resolutions and develop great plans … but still fail. Why? The Bible says the problem is within ourselves – within our own hearts and wills. We want to do what is right – but we don’t have the moral and spiritual strength to do it. The Apostle Paul said, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15).

This is why we need Christ, for only He can help us overcome our weakness by His Spirit and give us the strength to change. Turn your life over to Christ, and then ask Him to help you become the person He wants you to be.