New Year’s Day is a popular time for most people to reflect on their past and make plans for the future. What about you?
As the calendar turns, many of us feel like it’s time to reset, and we look forward to a fresh start. For Christians, New Year’s Day can be an especially meaningful time. The Christian faith is centered on renewal: we become new people when we accept Christ, and the Bible says that old things will pass away for us at that point. The days around the new year are an excellent time to focus on this process. Many of the churches in Galesburg, IL slow down their normal schedules around this time, so members have more time to spend in prayer, meditation, and planning.
Of course, a popular way to embrace renewal is to make a New Year’s resolution. Popular resolutions include losing weight, reading more books, and saving more money. This type of resolution can be helpful for anybody. However, as Christians, our biggest priorities should be spiritual matters. This year, consider making one of these resolutions that will build your relationship with God. They can be truly life-changing!
Reading the Bible In a Year
As Christians, we know that every word in the Bible is God-given and important. However, it can be easy to get in a rut when it comes to our own Bible reading habits. If you’re not reading your Bible regularly, or if you’re only reading certain books but ignoring others, you’re not getting everything you can out of God’s Word. Some parts of the Bible are easier to read and understand than others. But it’s important to read Scripture as a whole to get a sense of how it all fits together, and to make sure you’re not missing out on any part of God’s message.
Reading the Bible in a year might sound really challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. You can find many free reading plans online to help keep you on track. This is just one option! You can also use audio recordings of the Bible to make your reading resolution easier to keep. Listening to the Bible while driving, cleaning, or even mowing the lawn can help you get your reading in, even on busy days.
Regular Tithes and Offerings
For many Americans, the economy has been harder to navigate lately. Prices are up, times are uncertain, and we’re often worried about whether we can afford basic necessities. However, even during challenging times, it’s important to remain faithful to God when it comes to finances.
In Luke 21:1-4, Jesus watches as people come to the temple and donate money. Some wealthy people donate large sums, but then a poor widow appears to donate an extremely small amount of money. However, Jesus tells His followers that she gave more than anyone else that day. Since the coin she gave was all she had, she demonstrated more generosity than the wealthy people who gave money they wouldn’t miss.
If you’re considering a New Year’s resolution to give more money to God’s work, you might be wondering what the target amount should be. Reflect on Jesus’ parable, and be sure to pray about the decision.
Speak Differently
In Ephesians 4:29, Paul tells Christians to make sure nothing unhelpful comes out of our mouths. If our speech isn’t benefiting anyone around us, it’s better to avoid it.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. It’s hard to only say things that are edifying, but it can be helpful to focus on improving one aspect of your day-to-day speech. Many Christians choose to focus on one of these areas when making New Year’s Resolutions:
- Swearing or cursing, even if it’s a “milder” version of the real thing. In today’s society, vulgar and blasphemous language has become socially acceptable. However, these words are definitely not designed to build up those who are listening. If you’ve found a specific word creeping into your vocabulary that does not honor Christ, it could be a great opportunity for a New Year’s resolution.
- Gossip. In Christian circles, it’s easy to find yourself gossiping when you started out trying to do something else. Sharing prayer requests is an important way for a church family to support one another, but it can sometimes turn into sharing details that are unnecessary and hurtful. Scientists have found that gossip can be a social tool: it makes us feel connected to other people. However, it’s important for Christians to find other ways to bond with one another–ways that that don’t dishonor God.
- Criticism. Criticism can quickly become a habit. It’s easy to fall into patterns of criticizing your spouse, coworkers, or leaders. However, unless it’s done lovingly and constructively, criticism does nothing but drag you and other people down. In fact, researchers have found that one of the main ways to predict whether a couple will get divorced is to observe how often they criticize each other.
Honoring God Physically
New Year’s resolutions often have something to do with our bodies. Some people start new diets or join their local gyms. Others pick an item of clothing from their closet and vow to fit into it again by the end of the year.
As Christians, there are specific resolutions we can make to glorify God with our bodies. These often involve breaking addictions. Whether someone’s addicted to alcohol, video games, fast food, or excessive bodybuilding, addictions are usually hard on the body. A Christian’s body is a temple indwelt by God, and it should be treated with respect. You might also resolve to glorify God with your body by going to bed earlier, so you can spend more quality time with your loved ones and with God. You could even resolve to take on a physical task around the house, like vacuuming, mowing, or shoveling snow, to demonstrate unselfish love to your family members.
We’re Here to Help!
At Harmony Baptist Church, we know the Christian life is full of ups, downs and challenges. As a church family, we help each other out as we navigate those struggles. We’d love to see you in church on Sunday–see our ‘Contact’ page for more details!
