Resolutions for the New Year

Notebook

As one year quickly draws to a close and we look forward to a new year, we usually take some time for self-evaluation and making resolutions to improve our lives. Many resolutions that are made have to do with our lives here on this earth: improving our finances and health, eliminating bad habits, etc. These are all good, but we must remember that improving our spiritual lives is far more important.

For bodily exercise is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

In the new year, you may get in shape, eat healthier, quit a bad habit, and get out of debt. Those are all great goals, but none of them will matter if your spiritual life is not in order. So as you make your resolutions for the new year, here are six suggestions for improving your spiritual life.

Bible Study

The wise man wrote, “Incline your ear to hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge” (Proverbs 22:17). Growing in knowledge is a pursuit that requires effort on our part. Paul told Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). It is important to develop a habit of Bible study. The Bereans were commended to us because they were “examining the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) rather than blindly accepting what some preacher had to say (even if that preacher was the apostle Paul).

Prayer

We are encouraged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). These prayers must be offered “in faith without any doubting” (James 1:6). Does this mean that God will give us anything as long as we ask in faith? John helps answer this question: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (1 John 5:14-15). The requests that God grants are those which are made according to His will. This is really what is meant by the phrase “in faith,” since “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). In addition to strengthening our habit of prayer, we must also grow in our ability to pray in faith according to the will of God.

Righteousness

As Christians, we have been “freed from sin” and have been made “slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). The only way we can truly be slaves of righteousness is to “practice righteousness” (1 John 3:7). Therefore, we must continue our quest to overcome sin and be more like Christ. We should be able to say as Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). If we have any sin in our lives, we must identify it and deal with it. We are to find the “way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13) that has been promised and take the appropriate steps to eliminate that sin.

Service

One of the ways we show love for God is by showing love for others (1 John 4:21). This love is not to be merely a verbal expression, but should be manifested in our actions. John wrote, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). How will our love for our brethren be exhibited in our actions? Paul told the Galatians, “Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). A little bit later, he wrote, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Let us learn to do what we can with our resources and abilities so that we might do good to others and help those who are in need.

Teaching

In order to teach, we must be prepared to teach. This goes back to our point about Bible study. However, teaching involves more than just having the ability to give a proper answer (1 Peter 3:15). We must also have the courage and conviction to be willing to teach. This was why Paul requested prayers on his behalf – so that he would “make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). He told the saints in Rome, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Once we know the gospel and learn how to teach it to others, we must develop the boldness necessary to speak up when we have the opportunity rather than keep silent, ashamed to tell others about the word of God.

Time Management

This one may seem like it has more to do with our physical lives. It certainly would impact that, but the way in which we use our time also has a bearing upon our spiritual lives. Paul said, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). Everything we discussed in this article requires time. On top of these things, we also have obligations at home, work, and school. If we are to continue to grow spiritually, we must learn to manage our time so that we are able to devote ourselves to Bible study, prayer, righteousness, service, and teaching.


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