The beginning of a new year is usually a time to make certain changes in your lives, reflect on the past year, and create a vision for the year to come. What are you reflecting on from this past year? Do you feel you missed opportunities? Could you have been more courageous and taken more risks? Could you have trusted God more? There is something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make? A few years ago, I remember my New Year’s resolution was to read the entire Bible in one year – maybe you have had a similar goal. For me, this was one of the most fruitful experiences in my walk with the Lord. I would actually recommend it! Maybe that’s too much of a stretch for you. A simplified version of this might look like choosing one book of the Bible to read through at a time, starting a gospel-centered devotional, or even regularly meeting with other believers to fellowship in the Word and Spirit. Whatever you decide, prioritizing your spiritual life will most likely help filter everything else into its proper place (Matt. 6:33).
Statistically, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight–in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals! However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Without proper motivation, resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself? Whatever your plan is for the upcoming year, may I encourage you to prioritize making room for God? I pray that you will lean on the Lord for wisdom (Jas. 1:5) and guidance (Prov. 3:5-6).
There are many goals you could make a New Year’s resolution. What if growing in your relationship with the Lord was your first goal? If you don’t know him yet, what is standing in your way of making this the year for that? In fact, the Bible says not to even go another day without responding (Isa. 55:6-7, 2 Cor. 6:2). In a world where priority is placed on everything else, whether by ignorance or just disobedience, there is absolutely nothing that will fulfill our souls except for the love of God. Therefore, prioritizing your relationship with the Creator of the universe will always be the right choice.
What if this year, before deciding to join a gym or anything else, you decided to grow closer to Jesus? For some, this might be the first time you decide to make room for Him in your life. For others, this may be a time to reevaluate what has really been the focus of your life. A time of reflection is always beneficial in this regard. So, let’s heed the words of God given through the prophet Jeremiah, when he says, “This is what the Lord says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” (Jer. 9:23-24)
Maybe this can be your number one goal for the year. It could even be your verse of the year. As I pray for you at the start of this new year, I am asking the Father to give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in order that you will know him better. And that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you (Eph. 1:16-18). May the Lord give you wisdom (Prov. 2:6), and may he sanctify you in his truth (John 17:17). HAPPY NEW YEAR, my friends!
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:17-18
“Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” – 2 Timothy 2:7
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
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