New Year's Resolutions

January 13, 2020

Have you set your New Year’s Resolutions? If so, how are you doing with them a few days into the new year? As I am making my resolutions for the year, these are the questions I am asking myself: Are my resolutions God’s resolutions? Do my desires for the year align with God’s desires for my year?

The health industry LOVES the New Year! Gyms are full; diets are started. Everyone has good intentions. From what I can tell, all these resolutions are all about me. Make me look better, make me feel better about myself, help me achieve my goals. Don’t get me wrong, I think health goals are very important. If we do not take care of these bodies that God has entrusted to us, how can we go about doing the work he has given us to do with energy, vitality, and joy? Health is important.

Scripture does address our need to care for the body, but even more important than the body is the spirit. In 1 Timothy 4:8, Paul writes: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” As we are making health goals, are we also making spiritual goals? What do those look like and how do they help us to truly grow in godliness?

If you are looking for tools to help in your spiritual training, you may want to consider taking on The Bible Challenge: https://thebiblechallenge.org. There are 4 readings for each day of the year. At the end of the year, you will find that you have gotten through the entire Bible. If you want to go deeper, there are daily devotionals that align with the daily readings and even Old Testament and New Testament study guides. Studying God’s Word is the greatest exercise we could ever do!

New Year’s resolutions can be powerful tools of transformation.

Reflections

Are you making yours, keeping yours, or breaking yours? Ask yourself these questions: Are these your resolutions or God’s resolutions? Do your desires for the year align with God’s desires for your year?