It’s a new year and this time I decided not to make any new year’s resolutions. Instead, I’m going to make new year’s promises. While some might say this is simply a matter of semantics, it’s important to me to make the distinction. It’s easy for me to break a resolution, but a promise, well, that’s a big deal.

In 2009:

1. I promise to say yes to God’s prompting on my life. I’ll say yes to divine appointments even after a long day when I’m looking forward to flying home with hopes of no one sitting next to me.

2. I promise to say yes to my family every time I can. It’s easy to shut down my wife and sons with the simple, “no.” But I promise to yes every time I can and only to say no when there’s a better yes waiting for them.

3. I promise to say yes to my dreams. Life is fragile and we’re only guaranteed today, so I will say yes to the dreams God has planted in my heart and will give them the time and discipline in order for them to become realities.

4. I promise to say yes to my friends. The longer I live, the more important relationships become to me. People are not distractions or a means to an end. They are precious treasures whose stories are intersecting with mine and whose lives enrich my own. I will say yes to them every chance I get.

What about your promises? What’s the most significant one of the year?