This is the time of year when many people make their New Year’s resolutions. The Cambridge Dictionary defines this kind of “resolution” as: “A promise that you make to yourself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year.” Appended to this definition is the following example: “I’m going to eat more healthily and give up smoking.”[1] These resolutions made around the 1st of January are often broken by the 1st of February. Part of the problem is that when anyone says “I am going to do something,” they are relying solely on their own limited human efforts. When we fail to include the “GREAT I AM” (in other words GOD) in our future plans, it is a fatal mistake. So, if you have already made a New Year’s resolution, let me suggest a few amendments that you can add based upon the comments of some of the greatest preachers of our time. For instance, the late Charles Stanley once said: “Although our New Year’s resolutions may quickly crumble, God’s plans never fail.” This acknowledgement is based upon God’s assurance in the Book of Jeremiah when He gave us these encouraging words: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT2) Billy Graham echoed the applicability of this Scripture to the New Year when he said: “Start the New Year off with a sure thing—God’s promise to give you a hope and a future.” And finally, be sure to fortify your New Year’s resolutions with Pastor Charles Swindoll’s recommendation. He advises us to: “Make one resolution this year: [Anchor yourself] to God’s grace.”[2]
These pastors’ have provided us with sage words that must be considered if you are to have any hope of truly enjoying the upcoming days of 2025. What these ministers are trying to get everyone to understand is that we must heed the Words of God because His Words, if obeyed, offer us eternal life. But, as I mentioned, a key difference in our typical New Year’s resolutions is that we so often leave God out. We can’t afford to do that. So, let’s look to the Scriptures for guidance that will truly give us the resolve to pursue our future with the hope God provides for 2025 and all the years to come.
A key verse to consider in forming your resolution is Romans 12:2. In fact, it fits well with the Cambridge Dictionary definition of what a New Year’s resolution is supposed to be. In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul says: 2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT2) As we observed, a New Year’s resolution is supposed to have a part whereby you commit to “doing something good” or “stop doing something bad.” Here, when Paul tells us to stop doing what is bad, he is directing us to cease acting in the same way the world acts. And, we are to start doing good by “changing the way we think”—or, as some translations put it, we are to undergo a “renewal of our minds.”[3]
Now, if you have not made this resolution, then you have a very big problem. And your problem is this: Your status as a saved Christian is very much in doubt. You see, what Paul is describing here is the process of salvation by which a person first comes to faith and then continues in their faithful pursuit of Jesus Christ. Your salvation begins when you accept God’s grace and have faith in Jesus Christ. For as Paul states in his letter to the Church in Ephesus: 8 “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) But, you will never have this salvation unless you do as Paul says and change your way of thinking. In other words, you must repent because that is what repentance is: A total change in your thought processes. To repent, you must reject the wicked thoughts of the world and turn to a way of thinking consistent with God’s Word and His commands. This isn’t something you have the power to do solely on your own. But, if you turn to God and want this with all your heart, then the Holy Spirit will start the necessary work that allows you to have this “renewal of the mind.”
Now, someone might say, “I don’t need to have a ‘change in my way of thinking’ because I already accepted Jesus Christ long ago when I was baptized and became a member of the Church. So, my mind has already been renewed.” Well, if that’s your way of thinking, then your outlook is in serious error. You see, when Paul urges us to “change the way we think” or to “renew our minds,” he isn’t talking about a one-time action. Rather, the Greek verb forms used by Paul indicate that this renewal of our minds is an on-going, lifetime process. It is one by which we are progressively changed into an image more and more like the person God always planned for us to be. We are responsible for wanting to have that Godly way of thinking and consenting to the Holy Spirit’s transformation of our minds. But, again, this is not a “one-and-done” proposition. In other words, Paul is saying that we must accept Jesus by faith and then continue to allow the Holy Spirit’s transformation of us in order that our thoughts will be consistent with God’s plan for our lives.[4] What Paul is saying here matches well with something Solomon said in one of his Old Testament proverbs: “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (TEV) If you accept Christ by faith and allow the Holy Spirit to transform your way of thinking, then your life will take on a God-shaped appearance. Again, this is a lifelong transformation process. It’s not anywhere near complete simply by walking down the church aisle or through your baptism.
Before coming to Christ, you’ll make New Year’s resolutions (and any other resolutions throughout the year) that suit your agenda based upon what you think would be the best for you from a worldly perspective. But, once you accept Christ, your thinking will change. You’ll start adopting resolutions that have Jesus as the central figure influencing your plans for the upcoming days and years. Because of that, something radical will happen in your way of thinking. Whatever plans you intend your resolutions to achieve, you will have complete confidence in Jesus. Yes, you can rest assured even when those plans seem to go awry or come out differently than you originally anticipated. We can see an example of this in the life of a great American who died this past Sunday.
Jimmy Carter was our 39th President and, at the age of 100, he passed away leaving us with a mixed legacy. The reason that I say it was a “mixed legacy” is that Mr. Carter’s presidency began with such promise for so many people. My undergrad roommate at UVa was really a good guy. And, boy, was he ever a big Jimmy Carter supporter! He saw Mr. Carter as the “chosen one” who would heal the nation’s post-Vietnam and post-Watergate blues. He had complete confidence that, if elected as President, Carter would do some great things. As his presidency began, he was a new figure with a fresh face and a big ole southern grin that promised to bring back the good times. President Carter had big plans. And, they were earnest plans to get our nation back on track. But, the Bible teaches that man’s best plans don’t always go as expected. The Book of Proverbs reminds us that, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NLT2) God wants His people to make plans for the future but to also realize that He is in ultimate control as to how those plans will turn out and when they will be fully accomplished.
I am sure that this biblical truth was hard for President Carter to remember during some of his difficult times in the White House. For example, he was blamed for the high inflation and unemployment that the country experienced during his administration. And yet, these economic issues were largely a continuation of what had plagued his Republican predecessor, Gerald Ford, during his time in office. Some have strongly criticized Carter’s foreign policy—particularly his handling of the Iranian hostage crisis. But, the hostage crisis was brought on by many factors which were beyond Carter’s control. One of those factors was the long-standing hostilities between the U.S. and Iran reaching as far back as 1953 when our country threw its support to the Shah of Iran much to the disapproval of Islamic radicals. Interestingly, part of President Carter’s troubles with these Islamic revolutionaries stemmed from Carter’s Christian love for others. In this regard, many Iranians resented his compassion in allowing the Shah to come to America for cancer treatments.[5] From a purely foreign affairs perspective, denying the Shah medical attention may have made sense to some. But, President Carter opted to offer aid to a sick man rather than placate the vengeful hearts of those who wished the Shah only death. As it turned out, many historians believe that Carter’s handling of the hostage crisis cost him reelection. Ironically, the day of Ronald Reagan’s inauguration following his defeat of Jimmy Carter also marked the day of the hostages’ release.
At the time Mr. Carter left the White House, he may well have felt that, despite all his resolve, his presidency had been a great disappointment. But, sometimes when we think our plans have failed, God, in His timing, shows us differently. And so it was with Jimmy Carter. Now, all of this is not to say that President Carter failed to submit his plans to the Lord. I firmly believe that he consistently did exactly that. You see, Mr. Carter had faith in the words of Proverbs 16:3 which tells us if we will commit our actions to the LORD, then our plans will succeed.[6] The problem is that our human impatience can sometimes cause us to forget this promise. But, President Carter didn’t forget. You can see this by the way he continued to pursue God’s plan for his life. Even though his presidential record may not have been what he’d hoped for, he kept his faith that his plans would succeed as long as he stuck to God’s plan. And, he knew that God’s plan calls for us to love one another as Jesus loved us.[7]
And so it was, in the years following his presidency, God’s plan for Jimmy Carter bore its greatest fruit—for it was during his post-presidential years that he did so many wonderful things for people in need. For decades, he met the spiritual needs of the members of Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains, Georgia, where he regularly taught Sunday School.[8] And, soon after departing from Washington, Carter began his diligent, hands-on labor with Habitat for Humanity where he continued to volunteer for the next 36 years. Even at the age of 95, despite having a blackeye and 14 stitches sustained in a recent fall, Carter made his final visit to a Habitat for Humanity project in Nashville, Tennessee. When asked what spurred him on, Carter replied: “Like other Habitat volunteers, I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others.” In fact, Jonathan Reckford, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, credits Carter’s active involvement with his organization in bringing about a worldwide awareness of its charitable work. But, that is not all the former president did for others. Mr. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, founded The Carter Center, a non-profit organization, dedicated to eradicating malaria and other diseases in third-world nations. For this and his many other humanitarian efforts, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.[9] The Apostle Peter said: 10 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1st Peter 4:10 (NIV) Jimmy Carter’s post-presidential years were filled with his efforts to share the gift of Jesus’ love by serving others to meet their spiritual and physical needs.
Mr. Carter’s leadership skills were not appreciated during his time as President. Perhaps that is because God’s plan for him was for something far beyond anything that can be measured in terms of political greatness. Carter’s greatness wasn’t achieved when he held the reigns of the most powerful nation in the world. Rather, his greatness came through his commitment to humbly serve others. Today, I have no doubt that Jimmy Carter is standing among a heavenly group of like-minded servants who are saying: 37 “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.’” Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV) A fitting tribute to President Carter was offered by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro who said: “What he—with Mrs. Carter always by his side—has accomplished in the four decades since their time in the White House is truly remarkable—his actions around the globe have made an incredible difference—simply put, he has made the world a better place.”[10]
Now that I have offered this assessment of Jimmy Carter, you are probably thinking: “Wow, this guy must have always been a big Carter supporter.” No—actually, I voted for his opponents (Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan) in both presidential elections. But, as God’s Word says, we, as Christians, need to have an ongoing “renewal of our minds.” When my votes were cast in those elections many years ago, my “way of thinking” was, indeed, in need of a great many changes. The Holy Spirit has helped me see that what I thought was important back then, is very different from the things I treasure today. Back then, my New Year’s resolutions were simply to do whatever it took to get into law school and then go on in pursuit of a legal career. Today, I couldn’t be happier that all of that is behind me and that I now have the opportunity to teach and preach God’s Word. I am absolutely blessed that the Holy Spirit lead us to this amazing congregation—all from a small ad in a local newspaper!
What about you? Have your resolutions changed since coming to Christ? Not just your New Year’s resolutions but, more importantly, have your overall “life-goal resolutions” changed according to a renewal of your mind in Christ? Jesus said: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV) Are the things you treasure now any different from those you treasured before coming to Christ? I hope so. But, if that is not the case, don’t despair because you can still change all that. You see, if you change your mind about Jesus, then the Holy Spirit will change your heart. For God promises: 26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV) It is the grace and power of God that will accomplish this if you let Him. Let me leave you with the words of Pastor and writer, John MacArthur, who provides us with some sound, mind-changing advice. MacArthur tells us: “Enter the coming year with renewed hope in the power of God to do through you what you cannot [do alone].”[11] Let that be your New Year’s resolution this year and every year to come!
Let us pray.
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
January 5, 2025
©2025 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
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[1] Cambridge Dictionary, “Resolution,” https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/new-year-s-resolution [accessed January 1, 2025].
[2] Annette R. Smith, “12 Christian Quotes That Will Inspire You in the New Year,” https://savoringhome.com/christian-quotes-for-the-new-year/ (January 31, 2024).
[3] Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV—see also: the NASB, ESV, NET1, NKJV, KJV, CSB & NRSV.)
[4] Jack Cottrell, Romans Volume 2, ed. Jack Cottrell, Ph.D. and Tony Ash, Ph.D., (Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Co., 1998), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 313-314.
[5] “Iran Hostage Crisis,” History.com, https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/iran-hostage-crisis (April 23, 2024).
[6] Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” (NLT2)
[7] John 13:34-35 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)
[8] “Reflections on Former President Jimmy Carter’s Life,” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association,https://billygraham.org/story/reflections-on-former-president-jimmy-carters-life/ (December 29, 2024).
[9] Tessa Fleming, “From building homes to eradicating disease, Jimmy Carter's charity work defined his post-presidential life,” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-30/jimmy-carters-post-presidential-legacy-charity/103612788 (December 29, 2024).
[10] Sam Cox (Rear Adm. USN, Ret.) “Passing of President Jimmy Carter,” U.S. Navy History, https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/Recent/Article-View/Article/3787526/passing-of-president-jimmy-carter/ (December 29, 2024).
[11] Annette R. Smith, “12 Christian Quotes That Will Inspire You in the New Year,” https://savoringhome.com/christian-quotes-for-the-new-year/ (January 31, 2024).
