Did You Make It To Quitter’s Day?
So many people abandon their New Year’s resolutions by the second Friday of the year that the day has earned the nickname “Quitter’s Day.”
What about you? Did you even make it to Quitter’s Day?
I can’t afford another year of failed resolutions. Can you?
Each January, we list the habits we’re determined to tackle because we genuinely want to become better people. But after failing to keep those resolutions year after year, we often enter another new year with fading hope. We wish real change was possible. We pray for a miracle that in the new year we’ll have fewer reasons to hate ourselves because of the choices we made.
Our regrets may stem from decisions we made decades ago – or perhaps only moments ago. Some of those choices quietly grew into bad or even sinful habits.
Yet here is the hope we often overlook: we don’t have to keep making the same choices over and over again.
If yesterday was disappointing, today can be different. With God’s help, we can overcome destructive and sinful patterns.
What if, instead of overwhelming ourselves with a long list of resolutions, we asked God, at the beginning of each month, to show us one area of our lives that is displeasing to Him? Just one. Then let’s spend the rest of that month doing whatever it takes (through prayer, Scripture meditation, accountability, etc.) to overcome that behavior. And repeat this process month after month throughout 2026.
To be clear, this isn’t about willpower. It’s about staying focused and trusting God – with expectation – to bring real change as we seek to become more like the Christ-follower we sincerely want to be.
Each time I yield to God’s grace and choose obedience instead of defaulting to ingrained behavior, my confidence grows. I start to believe I can change.
As my hope increases, my anxiety decreases.
The first step is repentance – turning away from wrongful behavior and accepting God’s mercy for our unwise and sinful yesterdays. Then we move forward, just as the apostle Paul described in Philippians 3:13 (ESV):
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
With God’s help, let’s commit, one month at a time, to one area of growth. Minute by minute, choice by choice, through the power of the Holy Spirit, let’s reach toward what lies ahead: a different way of thinking – and a different way of living.
What about you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Your comment might also benefit others.)
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What if, instead of overwhelming ourselves with a long list of resolutions, we asked God, at the beginning of each month, to show us one area of our lives that is displeasing to Him? Just one.
The only One we can truly rely on and have great expectations about is our Lord! We certainly can’t depend on ourselves because anyone who’s ever made resolutions for the New Year knows this. That’s why I never make them! I ask the Lord to guide me and teach me how make changes that will please Him. I’ve never heard about “quitters day”, but do notice how those that make resolutions at the gym always seems to dwindle by the end of the month! “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.” Hebrews 12:1. Thank you for pointing this out, as it’s so important to ask God for help at the beginning of our journey of faith! “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. / From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Thanks Sheryl! What a great idea to start the year by improving and changing behaviors that displease our Lord! ✝️
Hi, Kim. I agree. After years of failed resolutions, I have finally decided I need to try something different. This plan (which I truly feel is Holy Spirit inspired) gives me hope. Thank you for stopping by, Kim. I appreciate your faithful encouragement!
Another great message.
I no longer make resolutions at the beginning of a new year.
I do have a digital to do list and try to keep it logical and manageable.
If someone were to see my list they would laugh at some of the things I often include. One such item is to put my laundry away. To some this might sound silly but to me it keeps me grounded if you can understand.
I TOTALLY understand. Sometimes, the simple tasks we accomplish help to establish organized habits.
One of the things on my list that would make people laugh is “floss my teeth.” 🙂
I can get so busy that I actually forget to brush my teeth. Yikes!
Today, in keeping with my post, I’ve been also adding an area I want to work on this month.
THANK you so much for stopping by Sandra. It means a lot every time you do.