We often set New Year’s resolutions based on what we want most. If we desire better health, we set goals about diet and exercise. Wanting financial freedom, we set goals about spending, saving, and earning. We hope establishing new behaviors in the new year will bring about the desired outcome by the end of the year.

But how many of us have set the same goals over and over, hoping for the desired results but never achieving them? I know I have. My New Year’s resolutions (or goals as I call them) always involve getting healthier—eating less, eating better, exercising more, etc. While these are admirable and needed goals, I never seem to come to the end of what I hope they will accomplish.

This year, I am asking myself—what do I really want? It seems wanting something enough should cause me to act in ways that achieve the desired outcome. So—What do I really want? What is it that drives me? What should guide my daily behavior?

Instead of setting a few goals to guide me, I want to live with intention. I aim to develop behaviors, goals, and resolutions that line up with my God-given life purpose. Engaging the passion God has given me and embracing the purpose for which He designed me helps me accomplish His plan.

Pondering the following questions may help us determine our life purpose:

What do I want most in life?

If I could accomplish only one goal, what would it be?

If time and money were no object, what would I do?

How do I want others to evaluate my life?

Last year, as I prepared a lesson on the mind, I came across a question Jesus asked. John the Baptist preached in the wilderness to prepare for the coming Messiah. When he recognized Jesus was the Promised One, he announced to his disciples that Jesus was the “Lamb of God.” Two of John’s disciples heard the announcement and immediately left John to follow Jesus. When Jesus saw them following Him, He turned and asked, “What do you seek?” They responded by calling Him, “Rabbi,” showing they desired to follow and learn from Him (John 1:29-39).

This question—What do you seek?—can help us evaluate our lives, guide our behavior, and live with purpose.

For me, the answer of what I want most is to know and love God more. God created us for fellowship. He says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). I pray He will increase my desire to seek Him, train me to meditate on His word, and cause me to recognize and pursue what pleases Him.

God created our hearts to love Him and our minds to know Him. Jesus died to give us eternal life. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Since it is God’s desire that we know Him, we can trust that He will answer when we ask for more passion to seek Him.

Will you commit with me to seek Him this year?

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask You to create in us a desire to know You above all else. Teach us to seek You with all our hearts. We trust You will answer according to Your promise. May we know and love You more fully this year than we ever have before? In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

*All Scripture quotations come from the New King James Version.