New Year's Resolutions

Like so many others, part of the ritual of my New Year holiday usually involves making resolutions. I embraced this challenge in my early 20's but have shifted away from emphasizing goals as I have grown older and have shifted toward a focus on improving my character. 

The three "R's" a former boss once taught me, were the keys to living a better life, Reevaluation, Restructuring, Reinvention. And there is no one better than Jesus to reveal our true hearts, unveil the illusions of who we think we are, and emphasize how we should treat others through reading His Word.

I thought I would share what I have been pondering on for the New Year for the last few years, I hope these will be of value to you in setting your own New Year resolutions. Here we go!

#1  - Colossians 3:13 - "Forgiveness - Start the New Year with a Clean Heart"

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Practical Application: When we make New Year's resolutions, it is common that we first look to ways that we can improve ourselves. Chances are, however, there are broken or severed relationships in our lives that we've given up on. The concept of forgiving and forgetting isn't one you'll find in Scripture, but forgiveness is. God doesn't expect us to not have healthy boundaries when faced with toxic or unhealthy relationships but He also does not allow us to harbor anger and bitterness toward that person either. Consider making it a New Year's resolution to forgive someone who's hurt you or seek forgiveness from someone whom you've pained.

#2 - Matthew 25:34-40 - "Commit to Serve Others"

"Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Practical Application: The Bible continually reminds us to take care of the poor, the widowed, and the less fortunate. Jesus is also pretty clear that when we do these things, we are taking care of His Kingdom work and that is the top priority in our lives. Make it a New Year's resolution to consciously go out and help those in need. Whether you decide to serve at a soup kitchen, volunteer at a food pantry or visit the elderly, this New Year's resolution is all about looking for ways to help those less fortunate .

#3 -1 Corinthians 19:20 - "Improve Your Physical Health"

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Practical Application: While in context this verse is actually dealing with sexual immorality, the overarching theme is often missed. We ought to honor God with our bodies through everything that we do; thus, taking care of bodies physically falls under this command and ultimately is a matter of good stewardship. If your New Year's resolution is to get in shape, use this Bible verse to remind you that you're working to improve the temple that God chooses to dwell in on earth, . . . you.

#4 - Matthew 14:22-23 - "Spend Time with God"

"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”

Practical Application: Jesus understood the value of time spent with God in solitude. If you do not currently devote time to being alone with God, make it a New Year's resolution to set aside some period of time to spend with God. So whether you can spend this time in prayer, reading your Bible, journaling, singing a worship song, etc., remember that being in tune with God and His Kingdom work translates into spending time investing in our relationship with Him.

#5 - Mark 12:29-31 - "Loving God = Loving Others"

"The most important commandment is this one," answered Jesus, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Practical Application: First, when the Creator of the Universe says, 'The most important . . . ' our full attention should be given to the words that follow. 

Jesus is commanding us and reminding us that loving God requires loving Him with all that we are, all that we were, and all that we will be. There is no part of us that does not belong to Him. Our primary reality should be spent in gratitude to the One who saved us from ourselves. Loving Him should be a natural overflow of our gratitude for all that He has done for us.

The second commandment follows the next logical step to this God-breathed state of constant thanksgiving, to share His love with those around us. Loving those that God created means loving them with the same care and devotion as we love ourselves.