Written by Brittany Pettinger of Elgin, MB

Many of you have probably come up with new goals and resolutions for 2017. As someone who isn’t the best at following through with New Year’s resolutions, I understand that life can get in the way and we eventually forget about our resolutions. Here is a list of steps to help us all keep up with our resolutions list this New Year.

Pick something simple, but rewarding.

For example, you may decide to stop watching Netflix for a few weeks to make more time for family, friends and Jesus. Pursue a hobby you have always wanted to do, but just haven’t gotten around to yet. My point is, you don’t have to pick something big, just make sure that it’s beneficial in some way.

After you have your goal(s) picked, find someone to hold you accountable and who you can talk to through the process. I find it is always easier to have another person supporting you when you are trying to achieve new things. This person can be a friend, youth pastor or family member. Just make sure it’s someone you see often, so you’ll always have someone to rely on.

Log your progress.

If you like to journal, then this will be a great step for you. When you have started working on your goals, take time out of your day to write down what has been hard and what has been easy about the whole process. This will also give you a chance to look back and see how far you’ve come.

Pray.

One of the most important steps in every area of our lives is prayer. There is no one out there who can help you keep up with your goals as much as Jesus can. He’ll be there through the entire process and will give you wisdom when you need it. Simply take a few minutes out of your day to pray to ask God to give you wisdom and determination when completing your new list.

New Year’s resolutions are often seen as a huge task that is impossible to complete, but if you have the right determination, faith, and trust, it can be very achievable.