Gospel-driven living

John Fonville writes about the differences between resolution-driven and gospel-driven living:

One of the problems with resolution-driven living is that resolutions can and most often do become idols in our lives. They become our gods and take authority over our lives and begin to exert their stifling influence over us and rule us in a merciless manner. . . .

John, in 1 John 5:21, ends his letter with a short command which has profound implications for our lives. He exhorts, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” We must constantly be on guard against yielding our hearts to any influence other than Christ and His Gospel.

I'd never given thought to the idea of resolutions as idols. But in as much as living by one's own strength takes our eyes off the source of our true strength and puts it on ourselves, there may be something to the idea.