Encouragements and Exclusions for Realistic Resolutions

Growth, Goal Making, and God Glorifying for 2026

Welcome to the blog post where I describe two juxtaposing moments in 2025, my critical review, debunking my reflection, and what wisdom I can gather on resolutions. I wanted to make a blog post with goal-setting inspo for the next year, but I think God thought this was more important to write. Expect vulnerability, trend-debunking, and God-fearing encouragement.

A Proud 2025 Moment

In my own version of Evangelism 101, I highly advocate awkward small talk that bridges to Gospel conversations. 

I shared with a stranger at a car shop. We had an obvious common denominator that made for a great awkward small talk starter: we had car problems.

CarShopStranger said something along the lines of: “You only get lazier when you are older.”

Ding ding ding. This was my ticket to directing this conversation toward something Christian. I shared some of my beliefs with, prayed over, and encouraged CarShopStranger. I believe I shared the Gospel with him, too, but not in a convert-right-now way (now I do wish I were a little more direct).

Though I did seize this opportunity and was blessed by it, don’t be deceived into thinking this is how I am 24/7.

Another 2025 Fail

(Wrote this 12/30/25) Full disclosure: my first alarm was at 8am today. I thought I snoozed it, but when I woke up again, it was 10am. I ended up scrolling on my phone, as I said I wouldn’t do. At 11:22am, I finally opened up my Bible. I didn’t start reading it until 4:02pm. What a day.

One of the joys I have with staying at my parents’ house during the holidays is indulging in laziness. It’s quite the problem. I used to operate in cycles: I would rotate periods of productivity and (ideally shorter) indulgence. As a person living on my own (aka adulting), it only got worse. I hate that I am like this, but I have a hard time breaking my habits.

Note that my 8am alarm indicates some sort of effort on my part. Unfortunately, that’s all I got.

Hypocrisy

My double life is that I am sharing about healthy habits with CarShopStranger while partaking in unhealthy habits behind closed doors.

CarShopStranger’s remark on laziness and age reminded my of what I had just read in Practicing the Way.¹ My conversation bridge was about spiritual transformation because I believe every human is obliged to it whether they believe it or not, as John Mark Comer writes:

Spiritual formation isn’t a Christian thing; it’s a human thing. … Spiritual formation is not optional. Every thought you think, every emotion you let shape your behavior, every attitude you let rest in your body, every decision you make, each word you speak, every relationship you enter into, the habits that make up your days, whether or not you have social media (if you do, how you use it), how you respond to pain and suffering, how you handle failure or success—all these things and more are forming us into a particular shape. Stasis is not on the menu. We are being either transformed into the love and beauty of Jesus or malformed by the entropy of sin and death. “We become either agents of God’s healing and liberating grace, or carriers of the sickness of the world.” To believe otherwise is an illusion; and to give no thought to this is to come dangerously close to wasting your life.

(Not Hypocrisy)

This is a side note worth noting in the middle of this writing. Let’s get technical.

To call myself a hypocrite in this situation might actually be a more hypocritical statement than the first.

That might be confusing, so here is a question to break it down: which is more hypocritical:

1. To claim to be a practicing Christian while also failing to uphold Biblical standards.

2. Or to say that #1 is hypocritical when the Gospel you preach clearly indicates a failure to maintain perfection and a dependence on God.

The answer also depends on what you define as the standard, which could be it’s own blog post. Is the standard:

1. Doing everything right. Not messing up. Perfection.

2. Surrendering because the whole point is that you couldn’t be perfect.

If I lost you, I’m sorry. That was a confusing loop. The main thing is that this first route of thinking leans towards legalism. Be careful out there, guys.

To claim both shame and the Gospel is a sticky situation. Our recognition of our fallen nature should lead us not to live in shame but to live in repentance.

Who Are You Becoming

With New Years resolutions, I’d only be pretending to think I could transform this habit. Perhaps, my mind and body can only take so much before I need some unproductive time. I am just human.

With this thought, it’s important to lean on the grace of God and not your own willpower.

I’m still learning this art, as I write down goals that don’t seem to have much foundation on Christ.

I am an example of what not to follow. Certainly, I recognize growth in my life, but it doesn't necessarily come in a set of resolutions at the beginning of each year. In fact, part of my end-of-the-year routine is to partake in wishful thinking. I may imagine better fitness, diet, productivity, wealth, relationships, etc. Next, I take these goals with a grain of salt because I know that it’s not the end goal. Then, I end up not actually pursuing anything wholeheartedly. This is the reality of my perspective shaped by eternity. What’s the point of pursuing anything that doesn’t last (Ecclesiastes vibe)? If I am to pursue something, it should be with pure intentions. But can I really go for a year without a slip-up in having an ulterior motive? Optimistically speaking, I am an example of a person who is learning.

Pure Heart

I just wonder how it would look to truly have goals that are utterly and honestly rooted in my relationship with Christ. That would require surrender and not willpower. I think it even requires something more: either the removal of all worldly distractions or the supernatural ability to never get side tracked for even a second.

To be frank, I don’t think that it’s possible. To have goals and live life with completely pure intentions sounds idealistic. It sounds like something unachievable on this side of eternity.

I saw this video where this girl talked about reforming her body and fitness resolutions this year to glorify God. I loved the idea, but I’m so skeptical. You can’t tell me that 100% of your desire is pure. Could you be without a single moment of alternate desire? If so, please share your secret.

In Fact

To believe this is denying the Biblical doctrine of humanity. To believe you can be completely pure with every goal is denying the reality of your fallen nature. To believe you can be perfect is denying Romans 3:23. Our sickness is why we need a doctor (Matthew 9:12). Jesus needed to be the light in our darkness (Ephesians 5:8). To delude yourself into completing a goal in an utterly holy way is to deny the reason why you need God. 

On this side of eternity, there will always be a war between flesh and the Spirit. Galatians 5:17 says, “For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.”

Perhaps, she was meaning to pursue a better mindset around goals in a David kind of way. This is the kind of holy that is achievable on earth by those saved by the Spirit.

Let’s Be Realistic

In 2026, don’t be a victim of wishful thinking or delusions.

@whitneypiersonlowe’s Instagram post “New Year’s Resolutions are a scam (usually) gives the following points. She explains how resolution planning could lead to false doctrine (she has paragraphs under each point, which are worth reading):

1. Resolutions trick you into believing you are in control of your future.

2. Resolutions often turn God into a vending machine.

3. Resolutions usually draw your focus inward, not outward and upward.

4. Failed resolutions make you hate yourself.

5. Resolutions prioritize checklists over real change.

@shelivesfreed’s post names a few “things to leave behind in 2025” and here are a few:

1. Manifesting. This is a dangerous, slippery slope tangled in with New Age beliefs. We are praying, surrendering, and trusting God’s plan for our life instead.

2. Controlling others, whether in a friendship or relationship. Control isn’t a fruit of the Spirit. It’s a form of witchcraft.

3. Always waiting for the perfect time to start what God asked you to do. Crazy faith means to walk with no sight at times.

Should You Make Resolutions?

If you want to, yes. I will continue to make goals, and some I will even list as resolutions for 2026.

Exclusions

In a world where everyone is giving into “being delulu” or “manifesting” their dreams, Christians do not need to give into this foolish, worldly thinking.

I won’t create resolutions in delusion. I won’t pretend that I’ll be perfect in accomplishing my goals. I’ll pray that God would “create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me” like David in Psalms 51. I’ll pray that God would “lead me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” like Psalm 23 because, if not for His glory, then what’s the point?

Contrary to several videos made by Christian influencers, I don’t believe that just because you have a desire means that it’s from God. Since when did we determine that our hearts have the last say? The Bible clearly speaks on the heart’s condition: feelings and desires can be deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).

In the face of trends like manifestation and delulu, Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Just because you have a dream doesn’t mean you are entitled to it. Just because you have an urge does not mean you need to give in.

Encouragement

There’s hope in the darkness… in the mistakes that you make and the past you could regret. I am a strong believer in that, if you happen to pursue something that is not from the Lord, God can still be glorified. The good news is that God is in control. Joshua’s story teaches God’s sovereignty in man’s ill intentions: what man meant for evil, God meant for good (Genesis 50:20). If you make a mistake, there may be consequences, but there can be redemption from our loving Father.

You never know. God could be using your desire to steer you towards a different and seemingly unrelated path (Proverbs 16:9 vibes here too).

Dream on. Don’t live in (worldly) fear, but live in boldness with wisdom and surrender. Understand the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our Risen Savior. Live in the fear of the Lord.

Perhaps God has laid something on your heart to do. Whatever you do, you can glorify God. Otherwise, why would it be a command?: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

The sovereignty of God should be a scary thing to nonbelievers but a blessing and comfort to the faithful. Fear of the Lord² equates to:

1. A Healthy Sense of Who God Is, resulting in reverence in awe,

2. A Moral Mindset that recognizes you are not God and you don’t get to make up what is good and evil or right and wrong,

3. Humbling Yourself Before God and Embracing What He Says/Defines

Set goals with the fear of the Lord. Be the kind of delulu where people tilt their heads at your unrelenting passion to please the Lord. Manifest your desires, as in bring them to the Lord in prayer and pursue them knowing God could take your desire to obey Him and turn it into something wonderful and God-glorifying.

Notes

¹ Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer: The conversation bridge with CarShopStranger was a reference to this very practical point about spiritual transformation and habits:

Case in point: elderly people. Most people over the age of eighty are either the best or the worst people you know. Hear me; I do not mean this in an ageist way. Just the opposite, in fact. Most twentysomethings I know are just kind of mid, as my teenage kids would say. They aren’t saints or potential terrorists; they’re just normal. This isn’t true of most elderly people I know. Run through your mental Rolodex of people past eighty: Most of them are either the most gracious, happy, grateful, patient, loving, self-giving people you know, just happy to be alive and sitting in the room with you, or the most bitter, manipulative, spiteful people you know, oozing emotional poison into their family lines and reveling in others’ pain. Sure, some are in the middle of the bell curve, but most are noticeably to one side.  That’s because they’ve spent almost a century becoming a person. Being formed. Through some strange, invisible chemical reaction of habits, mindsets, chosen attitudes, life circumstances, suffering, successes, failures, and random events, they became who they are. This is spiritual formation.

² A Video Summary on the Book of Proverbs by the Gospel Project: I believe it’s no coincidence that my Bible plan is taking me through Proverbs as I reflect on the past year and think of goals for the future. This video defines the fear of the Lord, as well as giving other great context and insights. For example, God does not promise prosperity if you do good things, as a surface-level interpretation of Proverbs indicates. There’s a reason that Proverbs is just one of the Wisdom books, sitting near Ecclesiastes and Job.