CBU voices provide a new approach to resolutions
Riverside, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2026) — Every January, people set ambitious New Year’s resolutions only to watch them fade within months if not weeks. But what if resolutions could become more than fleeting wishes?
We talk to faculty and staff at California Baptist University about transforming resolutions from habits into callings.
Examining two verses in Scripture, Jacob Ravenscraft, dean of Spiritual Life, Dr. Lisa Friesen, associate professor of allied health professions, and Dr. Erin Smith, professor of psychology, provide wisdom on using these as guides for the new year.
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul, an apostle who taught about Christ’s death and resurrection, wrote to Christians in all of Rome about the need to not only hear but also apply what they are learning about Christ: “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
According to Ravenscraft, biblical renewal would be the ongoing sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that flows from our salvation in Christ — received through repentance and faith.
“Renewal begins in the mind through truth, affects the heart and spirit through faith, and is lived out in the body through obedience,” Ravenscraft said. “If we only focus on one area, we become unbalanced. True worship involves presenting our whole selves to God. Engaging mind, body, and spirit ensures that our faith is not just intellectual or emotional but lived out practically.”
While Romans 12 begins by discussing our bodies, Psalm 139:13-16 points to God’s creation of our bodies, Friesen said.
“To present our bodies as a living sacrifice means to recognize that our physical bodies are created by God to bring glory to God,” she said. “Just as we take care of other aspects of what God gives us, we are given physical bodies which can be used to worship God by stewarding what He has given us.”
In the passage from Romans, Paul wrote about the renewal of the mind. Smith said that as she continues to study psychology, she becomes more convinced that paying attention is essential for any transformation.
“We participate in God’s transformation of our minds by paying attention to what we pay attention to,” Smith said. “It’s not just a nice platitude to think on (quoting Philippians 4:8) ‘whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.’ It is a keen insight into how our minds are shaped.”
When making New Year’s resolutions, the three gave some advice on applying these practically.
Ravenscraft provided a list of ways to be a living sacrifice, including daily prayer and Scripture reading, worship and fellowship with the church, intentionally pursuing holiness, and evangelization coinciding with discipleship making.
Friesen said that to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, we must take care of our health.
“Exercise has been demonstrated to prevent many chronic diseases as well as boost mental health,” she said. “Eating is also a way to honor God with our bodies. God has given us amazing food that is created to fuel our bodies to function as they were created to.”
To transform our minds, Smith said we have to interrupt automatic behavioral or thinking cycles and learn to pay attention.
“This Christian life is never done,” Smith said. “There is always more mystery, wonder and love to discover in the never-ending, knowledge-surpassing majesty of our Lord Jesus. If only we have eyes to see and to pay attention to what he would have us notice and become.”