I recently came across a band that, while new to me, has been around for several years now. It is, for lack of a better term, a “church band” from Australia. While there’s some good music but questionable doctrine coming some places Down Under, I’ve been really impressed with this group. Their goal isn’t to crank out as much new music as possible (which is not to say that that is others’ goal), they want to produce good music with good theology and doctrine, and I think they’ve been largely successful.

Take their song, “Jesus, Strong and Kind.” I don’t want to ruin it by talking to much about the song, but, rather, I’d like to let the song speak for itself. I do, though, want to call out two parts. The first is the chorus:

For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kind

What a beautiful lyric. What makes it even better, I think, is how the verses set that up:

Verse 1
Jesus said that if I thirst
I should come to him
…

Verse 2
Jesus said if I am weak
I should come to him
…

Verse 3
Jesus said that if I fear
I should come to him
…

Verse 4
Jesus said if I am lost
He will come to me
…

Did you catch that?

• I should come to Him
• I should come to Him
• I should come to Him
• He will come to me.

What an amazing, succinct Gospel presentation. If we’re lost, and we all are born that way, He will come to us, and as that verse goes on to say:

And he showed me on that cross
He will come to me

For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kind

Listen to the song here:

At times in the past, I have been pretty dismissive of New Year’s Resolutions. Why resolve to do something you know you’re not going to do, right? With that attitude, of course, it’s no wonder they never work out. As I’ve gotten older, though, I’m finding more value — and wisdom — in making resolutions.

The best argument, I think, is that without goals, it’s really hard to make measurable progress. Additionally, if you’re not striving toward something, you just end up… somewhere. It makes sense, then, to be specific about what you hope to achieve. You may miss the mark ultimately, but having a mark in the first place sets you up for success.

Another important aspect of these resolutions is the demarcation of a clean start. I’m a big fan of “I haven’t done foo in so many months” or “I’ve done foo every day for this many months”. I find it helpful to apply that logic to improving myself. Have a bad habit you want to break? A habit you’d like to form? A sin you’d like to break free from? January 1, while it may be some arbitrary line in the sky, offers a great starting line for whatever effort you choose for yourself.

It’s a new day and a new year. Clean your slate, state your intentions, and get to work.

Regardless of what you resolve to do, or whether you make specific plans or not, I hope this year is a good one for you and that the Lord shows you grace and favor.