Every year we go through the tradition of evaluating the past year and making decisions for our upcoming year. This year I would like to encourage you to think outside the box concerning your Christian New Year resolutions.
Instead of the stereotypical Christian New Year resolutions like reading the Bible in a year or winning more souls, which are both admirable goals, I am going to try to stir your thinking and stir your hearts to take on some goals that will build your relationship with Jesus rather than engage in another religious activity.
So here are five recommendations for Christian New Year resolutions.
5 Awesome Christian New Year Resolutions.
Read The Red And Pray For The Power
Instead of getting involved in another read the Bible through in a year program how about changing tactics?
The reason we read our Bibles is not to gain knowledge. Knowledge alone is not enough and in all honesty, even in Christians, knowledge puffs up.
Suppose we intend to get to know the Savior of our souls better and to grow in a more profound knowledge of the love of Christ towards us. How about thinking outside the box and this year you make it a goal to read all the words printed in red in a red letter edition study Bible?
The red letters are the words of Jesus Himself. This can be done easily in 1 month’s time so you can do it 12 times in 1 year.
If you read something 12 times, do you think you will remember what is said? I do!
Along with reading the red, pray that God will enable you by the power of the Holy Spirit to carry out what is written in the red. You can find a Red Letter Bible Here.
Skip 1 Meal A Week And Give It To The Poor
We all hear of people making New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or eat healthier. Well, how about making that goal something that has spiritual significance.
In Isaiah, the prophet talks about a fast that God has ordained. He tells us to not only go without eating but to give the food we would have eaten to the poor.
How about when you decide to eat less, you take that money that you save and give it to your local food bank or a charitable missions organization?
Take one meal, maybe breakfast or lunch, and skip it. Take the $5.00 that you save once a week and give it away.
The $20.00 a month that you give may just feed a family for a month in a 3rd world country or provide a meal for a family of 4 at your local food bank. I recommend either Compassion International or World Vision.
Give God Control Of Your Appointment Book
Many Christians make New years resolutions to win more people to Jesus. To be more faithful in evangelizing their friends and families.
They may start right and speak up, but as the business of the year starts, this goal becomes forgotten in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Instead of making a goal of evangelizing, how about making the purpose of starting every morning with the simple prayer for God to make you sensitive to His divine appointments throughout the day?
Instead of limiting your goal to just evangelism that “you make an effort about,” make your goal to be more sensitive to “Divine appointments that God is making an effort about?”
On your way to work or while taking your morning shower, just ask the Lord to keep you aware of His appointments for the day.
I think you will find this not only a lot more workable but will see much more fruit in the long run including leading somebody to Jesus.
Pursue Biblical Prosperity
Many people at New Year’s make resolutions to get a new job, make more money, buy a house or car, etc. They focus their attention on the world’s view of prosperity.
I want to challenge you to make biblical prosperity your goal. It is not the same thing even though many preachers have bastardized the gospel to try to make it the same.
Biblical prosperity centers in on the health and wholeness of your spirit and soul. Make this year a year that you center in on how healthy you are spiritually and emotionally.
Instead of getting into more debt where that brings anxiety to your heart, work on getting out of debt.
Instead of taking on a second job just so you can have more toys, work on becoming content with what you have so you can spend more time with your children.
Instead of taking a job that makes you work nights just so you can get a promotion, how about thinking outside the box and get your promotion at home by being the greatest spouse, parent, neighbor you can be?
Make biblical prosperity your Christian New year resolution.
Speak A Random Word Of Kindness And Mercy Once A Day
In the book of James, the author writes that good water and bitter water should not come out of the same well. He is talking about the words we speak.
This year how about making a resolution that you are going to say random words of kindness and mercy to 1 person every day. That you will bless or compliment someone just because you can.
Whether it be your spouse, your child, your neighbor, or the stranger standing in front of you in the grocery store, you are going to find one person every day that you can bless with words of kindness and mercy.
As the Psalmist said in Psalm 19 “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, My Rock and my Redeemer.
What can a better Christian New Year resolution be made than a goal of doing something that will be pleasing to our God?
Now that is something to think about!
Pastor Duke
