In Daniel’s commitment to live for God, even in Babylonian captivity, it is recorded that he “purposed in his heart” not to defile himself with the king’s wine and meat. Purpose was used there as a transitive verb, an action word. He did not just “propose” it as something he would try, but he “purposed” it as something he would do.
The New Year’s resolution lists have become, in the practical sense, more like proposals than purposes. We write some proposals we want to try as the New Year begins. Though this sense is not really what the word “resolution” is defined as in Webster’s, it has come to mean that in recent times.
So, as we enter 2017 we ought to set forth some few things we are determined by set purpose to do, and not just to try to do. One right purpose accomplished is better than ten resolutions broken.
Happy New Year 2017!