Well, here it is the third Friday of January. So, I will take this opportunity ask you a question. How are you coming with those pesky New Year’s Resolutions?
The good news is that if you are still working at keeping them, the chances are that you will continue to do so. Why do I say this? Because people whose business it is to know such things tell us that the second Friday in January is “Quitter’s Day”.
According to www.Nationaltoday.com…
Quitter’s Day is held on the second Friday in January. This year, it falls on January 10. The tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions began some 4,000 years ago with the ancient Babylonians. For them, the year did not begin in January but in mid-March — on the first moon after the spring equinox. Quitter’s Day is set aside to recognize those who set new year goals and fail to achieve them — and to encourage and equip them to try again and ultimately succeed. Research has shown that people quit their resolutions for the year by the second Friday of January.
The article goes on to say:
In 2019, extensive research was conducted by Strava — a social network for athletes — and it was found that approximately 80% of people who made New Year’s resolutions have tapped out by the second week of January. Making deductions from the available 800 million user-logged activities in that year, Strava even went on to predict that the second Friday of January was the fateful day when the motivations of most quitters begin to decline. The main areas of focus for resolutions involve exercise, eating habits, and weight loss.
Therefore, if you have persisted in your resolutions for a full seven days beyond “Quitter’s Day”, you are clearly on track to have continued success. So, stay the course, my friend. That is certainly what I intend to do.
But what does it take to do that? Many things, no doubt. Among them, to be sure, are dogged commitment, personal discipline, and unwavering resolve. But even then, it is still not easy to display these qualities consistently in one’s own strength. Therefore, accountability is almost essential.
Perhaps that is why so much emphasis is placed in the Bible on supporting one another. We are told in Proverbs (chapter 27, verse 17), “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
We are further reminded in Ecclesiastes (chapter 4, verses 9-12) that two are stronger than one. We read:
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Clearly, the Bible shows us the value of friends - not just having one, but being one. For of all the qualities of friendship, perhaps the one that is the most crucial is encouragement. Thus…
In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we read:
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
In Proverbs 27:17, we read:
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
In James 5:16, we read:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
In Romans 15:1, we read:
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, we read:
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
In 1 Corinthians 12:26, we read:
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
and In Philippians 2:4, we read:
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Working together with others, you can improve your lot in life and theirs.
Of course, the Bible also says in Proverbs (chapter 18, verse 24) that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” The one true Friend above all others is, of course, Jesus Christ. He tells us repeatedly in the Gospels that He is our friend (Luke 12:4; John 15:15).
And with this Friend pulling for us, we can find strength beyond our wildest expectations. As the Apostle Paul reminds us (in his New Testament Letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 13): “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
What all are you hoping to accomplish this year? With regard to your health? To your career? To your finances? Or more importantly, to your relationships? To your parents and grandparents? To your siblings? To your marriage? To your children? To your grandchildren? And above all, with regard to your Lord and Savior Himself?
Help yourself to these goals. But help others as well. And when you need a little help, rely on others. Above all, rely on the Lord Himself! Together, you will go forward and achieve success beyond your wildest dreams!
SOURCES:
https://nationaltoday.com/quitters-day/;
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/10/quitters-day-new-years-resolutions/77559275007/.
SCRIPTURE:
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/27-17.htm;
https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/4-10.htm. See the Cross References here as well.
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/18-24.htm;
https://biblehub.com/luke/12-4.htm;
https://biblehub.com/john/15-15.htm;
https://biblehub.com/philippians/4-13.htm.
The good news is that if you are still working at keeping them, the chances are that you will continue to do so. Why do I say this? Because people whose business it is to know such things tell us that the second Friday in January is “Quitter’s Day”.
According to www.Nationaltoday.com…
Quitter’s Day is held on the second Friday in January. This year, it falls on January 10. The tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions began some 4,000 years ago with the ancient Babylonians. For them, the year did not begin in January but in mid-March — on the first moon after the spring equinox. Quitter’s Day is set aside to recognize those who set new year goals and fail to achieve them — and to encourage and equip them to try again and ultimately succeed. Research has shown that people quit their resolutions for the year by the second Friday of January.
The article goes on to say:
In 2019, extensive research was conducted by Strava — a social network for athletes — and it was found that approximately 80% of people who made New Year’s resolutions have tapped out by the second week of January. Making deductions from the available 800 million user-logged activities in that year, Strava even went on to predict that the second Friday of January was the fateful day when the motivations of most quitters begin to decline. The main areas of focus for resolutions involve exercise, eating habits, and weight loss.
Therefore, if you have persisted in your resolutions for a full seven days beyond “Quitter’s Day”, you are clearly on track to have continued success. So, stay the course, my friend. That is certainly what I intend to do.
But what does it take to do that? Many things, no doubt. Among them, to be sure, are dogged commitment, personal discipline, and unwavering resolve. But even then, it is still not easy to display these qualities consistently in one’s own strength. Therefore, accountability is almost essential.
Perhaps that is why so much emphasis is placed in the Bible on supporting one another. We are told in Proverbs (chapter 27, verse 17), “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
We are further reminded in Ecclesiastes (chapter 4, verses 9-12) that two are stronger than one. We read:
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Clearly, the Bible shows us the value of friends - not just having one, but being one. For of all the qualities of friendship, perhaps the one that is the most crucial is encouragement. Thus…
In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we read:
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
In Proverbs 27:17, we read:
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
In James 5:16, we read:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
In Romans 15:1, we read:
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, we read:
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
In 1 Corinthians 12:26, we read:
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
and In Philippians 2:4, we read:
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Working together with others, you can improve your lot in life and theirs.
Of course, the Bible also says in Proverbs (chapter 18, verse 24) that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” The one true Friend above all others is, of course, Jesus Christ. He tells us repeatedly in the Gospels that He is our friend (Luke 12:4; John 15:15).
And with this Friend pulling for us, we can find strength beyond our wildest expectations. As the Apostle Paul reminds us (in his New Testament Letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 13): “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
What all are you hoping to accomplish this year? With regard to your health? To your career? To your finances? Or more importantly, to your relationships? To your parents and grandparents? To your siblings? To your marriage? To your children? To your grandchildren? And above all, with regard to your Lord and Savior Himself?
Help yourself to these goals. But help others as well. And when you need a little help, rely on others. Above all, rely on the Lord Himself! Together, you will go forward and achieve success beyond your wildest dreams!
SOURCES:
https://nationaltoday.com/quitters-day/;
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/10/quitters-day-new-years-resolutions/77559275007/.
SCRIPTURE:
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/27-17.htm;
https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/4-10.htm. See the Cross References here as well.
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/18-24.htm;
https://biblehub.com/luke/12-4.htm;
https://biblehub.com/john/15-15.htm;
https://biblehub.com/philippians/4-13.htm.