It’s a new year. An opportunity to make some needed changes. But you’re wary of New Year’s resolutions because prior years are littered with resolutions that didn’t survive more than a few weeks. Or days. Resolve and determination were insufficient.

Body-builder Arnold Schwarzenegger says, “As you start today with all the motivation in the world, remember this: it won’t last.” Motivation is only a short-term fuel source. You’ll be out of gas soon and your new goals will have fizzled. “The only lasting fuel is routine. And you only get a routine by dragging yourself [back to it] on the days when you have no motivation.” You just have to keep showing up, over and over. If you miss a day, don’t quit or beat yourself up, just get back to the routine the next day.^{Article here.}

So will routine be the magic bullet? I doubt it.

Resolve and determination and routine certainly have their place. And they can bring change to parts of our lives. But for lasting, transformational change of our being (and therefore of our behavior), we need the Spirit of God to change us from the inside out.

Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the deeds of the flesh. Keep in step with the Spirit; live by the Spirit to produce the fruit of the Spirit—which includes self-control.^{Gal 5:16-25}

Each time I have come up against a part of me that stubbornly resists change (whether it’s sin or poor habits or inaction), I have only found victory by actively and continually yielding that area of my being to the control of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I don’t have the will-power for this. I am weak. I want to please my flesh instead. Please take control. I yield to You now. Please infuse my will and desires with Yours. I choose to be led by You.

How does the Spirit want to change you in ’26?