2017 New Year’s resolutions are for chumps. More specifically, we are overly zealous optimists who ignore decades of personal history for the “turning over a new leaf” strategy. We say, “No more fast food, binge watching, couch potato-ing, or over-spending. I am going to be a new person. A better person! Change is the operative word for 2017!”   Who am I to argue? Change is certainly possible with the right motivation.

In spite of the reality that your list and my list will be in the recycling bin in 90 days, may I throw my hat in this already crowded conversation of “Be the better version of you” rhetoric? Let me offer one philosophy and then seven behaviors to sync your heart to in 2017.

All behavior is motivated by something. Approval. Love. Revenge. Disappointment. Take your pick. These emotions become our philosophy for living. That is, “I do these things because I want to be accepted…or loved…or because I’m sick and tired.” I’d like to suggest a philosophy that is rooted in Jesus. Even if you’re not a Jesus person yet, give this a try. You are already loved. That’s it. You don’t have to do anything else to be supremely loved by God. You could eat your way to oblivion and still be loved. You could never download another couch to 5k app and heaven would not be moved. Do you know why? You are loved by God. This philosophy, this reality, changes why we do anything. No longer do we seek approval or love or mercy or friendship by what we do. No! We do, go, give, grow because we are already loved by God. This love gives us strength and motivation to be the person we were made to be. Our behaviors can now change because of the right motivation.

With that being said, I would encourage you to toss the revamped, re-worked 2016 “be the skinnier, wealthier, and healthier you” list and embrace a list with a bit more bite. Here are mine.

1. Quit complaining. If this is the only one you do in 2017, your life will already be better. When the Apostle Paul told the Galatian church, “Do everything without complaining . . .” (Galatians 2:14), he knew their joy was attached to this command. When I’m hurting or unhappy or feel wronged I want to turn it in to prayer, praise or worship of God’s faithfulness over my life. Be honest with yourself—no one wants to hear our complaining anyway!

2. Dream more. Jim Collins challenges us to have a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. I would like to change it to a Big Hairy Audacious Dream for 2017. What would you like to see happen this year that is so big that it makes you nervous to even say it out loud? Start a new business, adopt a child, write a book, lose 100 lbs? Let’s dream more. Of course there is a difference between being a dreamer and being a day-dreamer. One sets a course for the impossible and the others stays in his pajamas all day and feasts on Hot Pockets. Be a dreamer.

3. Feed your soul. Once again Paul reminds us, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) Get your Crossfit on and eat your Wheaties! But our hearts could stop beating tomorrow. This is why I want to spend time on what really has eternal value. Dust off the Scriptures, get in a bible study, carve out some time to walk and pray. We will never regret turning off the T.V. so we can feast on the riches of God.

4. Take a Sabbath break. We tend to think Sabbath equals. “Do nothing. Veg out and unplug. Go to the beach.” Sabbath actually means creating real, consistent space to find true rest in Jesus. Hebrews 4:9 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;” This means cultivating real, honest-to-goodness peace in your life by connecting with God. Translation? Get away this quarter. Bring a stack of books, your bible and a journal. Recharge your heart. Let’s let our calendar work for us, not against us.

5. Read more. Turn off the TV. Heck, get rid of your cable. We are the most entertained generation on the planet and the most medicated and miserable. Is it possible that all the screen time is actually destroying our identity and hindering personal growth? For centuries the way people grew, learned, cultivated critical thinking was through books. My rule . . . one book on my nightstand, one book in my computer bag, one book next to the toilet. TMI? Tim Challies has an incredible book challenge that my wife and I are using this year. Give it a try.

6. Go to church more. Don’t be the hater this year on the church. It’s just full of broken, hungry, and regular people . . . like you. Nobody is pretending to be perfect or holier-than-thou. Get over yourself and go to church. Join the throngs of other broken people who are connecting with the lavish love of God. Big church, little church, house church, missional church, I don’t care. Just go. Lay down your tired argument that “you are the church” and you don’t need to go to a building with others to worship Jesus. The problem with this is you need other people. And they need you. You are made to worship alongside others, submitted to the preaching/teaching of scripture and celebrate God’s mercy at the table.

7. Do the work of getting in community. Find a group of men/women to meet with, pray with, eat with, cry with, shop with, laugh with, serve with, study with, go deep with, travel with, work with, dream with, hope with, and grow with. Finding community is real work. But it may be the best work you and I do in 2017.