There’s something about the New Year that makes us want to start over and begin anew.
We begin to reflect over the past year and see where we can improve and areas we’d like to change. You’d like to grow in your walk with Christ but you’re not sure how.
Keep reading to learn more about how to make godly resolutions for the New Year.
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What does the Bible say about new beginnings?
The Bible doesn’t necessarily talk about the New Year, but it does speak about new beginnings.
Here are Bible verses about new beginnings:
- Isaiah 43:18-19 – “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert,” (ESV).
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come,” (ESV).
- Ezekiel 11:19 – “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh,” (ESV).
- Job 8:7 – Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be,” (ESV).
- Revelation 21:4-5 – ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true,” (ESV).
- Lamentations 3:22-24 – Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him,” (ESV).
What does the Bible say about resolutions?
The Bible doesn’t say anything about New Year’s resolutions. It doesn’t prohibit nor condone participating in making resolutions.
What shall we do then?
I’m under the opinion there’s nothing wrong with making resolutions. Still, we should remember that God is in control and he should be at the center of our resolutions. The Bible states, “every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart,” (Proverbs 21:2 ESV). Let’s make sure our resolutions are biblically aligned and our motives are pure.
Christian New Year Resolutions
If you decide to participate, your first priority should be in making godly resolutions for the New Year.
Here are a few Christian New Year’s resolutions.
#1 Read the Bible consistently.
You may not be the best at keeping up with your Bible reading. You know you would like to change that. There are several things you can do to help you read the Bible consistently.
One of the methods to help you read the Bible consistently is to follow a Bible plan. Bible plans are designed to help you read the Bible every day. You don’t have to worry about figuring out what to read.
Another way to help you read the Bible consistently is to create a routine. Set a time you’d like to devote to reading the Bible every day. I read the Bible first thing in the morning, but you can set a time that works for you.
#2 Start a prayer journal.
Is your prayer life weak? Mine was too, but I’ve been working on it. Just like Bible reading, I set a routine for prayer. I pray in the morning after reading the Bible. I’ve also gone on prayer walks.
Something that’s helped my prayer life tremendously is starting a prayer journal. I like to write my prayers. I’ve found it’s easier to focus and I tend to just write more than I would if I just prayed out loud. It’s also really cool to see the progression of your prayers on paper.
#3 Make new godly friends.
Maybe you’ve noticed you’re lacking in the friendship department? Don’t worry, that was me too.
Make it a goal to make new godly friends this new year. One practical way of doing this is to invite a new girl to hang out every week. After a while, you’ll begin to notice your circle of friends growing.
I used to complain about how I didn’t have many friends, but I never did anything about it. If you don’t make an effort, you won’t ever see a change.
#4 Develop a servant’s heart.
We tend to serve ourselves rather than others. This year you’d like to change that and develop a servant’s heart.
Look to Jesus as your example. Jesus deserved to be served but didn’t come to earth for this purpose. Instead, he came to serve (Matthew 20:28).
Trust that God will be able to develop this heart within you. I’ve found that serving at church helps you consider others first and make you a kinder person.
#5 Start tithing.
For the longest time, I barely tithed. But the Bible is clear. As Christians, we’re called to be generous with our resources. If you haven’t tithed consistently, this year is the year to start.
Anything counts. Begin with giving small. Just stay consistent. Over time, if you’d like to give more, you can increase the amount you give.
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