Resolution or Vision?

Do you know the difference between a vision, a dream, and a resolution? A resolution--usually something made on New Year's Day for the coming year--is, "the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action; the mental state or quality of being resolved," (Dictionary.com). How many people have made a New Year's Resolution? Come on, let me see your hands (yep, mine's up, too). Now, how many are still carrying out their resolutions? I see a lot fewer hands. Statistics say that "40-45% of adults make one or more resolutions or goals for themselves. Research shows...[of the 40-45% only] 46% make it past 6 months," (Articlesbase, 22, Nov. 2009). So why do we keep making resolutions if we can't keep them? I think the answer is in the question. It's because we can't keep them that we keep making them. We think that one of these years we will succeed. I think another part of the answer is in the definition. The definition says that a resolution is a "mental state" or "determining." It's like willing yourself to get up in the morning (30 minutes earlier) to exercise. If your only hope is "willing" yourself, you probably won't make it past the first two weeks. So, how do you make something stick?

What about a dream? According to Cinderella, "A dream is a wish your heart makes," (Walt Disney's Cinderella, 2005). For some, their dreams come true and not for others. How is a dream different from a resolution? A dream is, "an aspiration; goal; aim; a wild or vain fancy; to see or imagine in sleep or in a vision," (Dictionary.com). So why do some dreams come true and some dreams not? Let's come back to that.

Last, but not least, a vision is, "an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency," (Dictionary.com). What does the Bible say about visions? "Where there is no vision, the people perish," (Proverbs 29:18). "Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it," (Habakkuk 2:2). "That he may run," is the difference between the vision, the dream, and the resolution succeeding. There is nothing wrong with having big dreams. In fact, our pastors encourage us to dream big dreams for God. They encourage you to do that, because if your dreams are only little, you may think that you caused them to come true. Mark Batterson said that God likes impossible odds, (see In a Pit with a Lion, ch. 2). I believe that's true and that's why we need to have more than a heart-wish and more than a mental determination. If all we have to lean on are those two things, then when trouble comes, we'll abandon our dream or resolution. But, if this is a vision, from God, that we've written on our hearts and sewn into the weave of our lives, then we will find the strength to see it through to completion, even in the face of impossible odds. "Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come..." (Habakkuk 2:3). This year, don't make a New Year's Resolution...make a God vision and write it down, so that you will keep running after it.