As we prepare to transition out of 2022 and into 2023, most of us are starting to put together a list of New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions can include any number of things, ranging from losing some weight to becoming more financially responsible. While those goals are admirable, this is also a great opportunity to make some Christ-focused resolutions. Doing so will put you on a good path to spiritual health in the coming year.
New Year’s resolutions are a major part of many New Year’s traditions. Typically, most of us start talking about the changes that we’re going to make in the coming year a month or two January 1 arrives. These changes typically involve a commitment to better health, better money management, or that we’re going to slow down and spend more quality time with the people that we’re closest to in our lives. Those are all certainly admirable goals, and there’s nothing wrong with setting them for yourself.
However, the coming New Year’s holiday also provides us with a chance to make some spiritual strides. We know that we are already in relationship with Christ, but the clean slate provided by the beginning of a new year provides a wonderful opportunity to take that commitment to another level.
With January 1, 2023, quickly approaching, spend some time evaluating where you’re at in your walk with Christ. Then, identify some areas where you could do better in the coming year. Allow these resolutions to deepen your commitment to discipleship as you seek to be a better Christian in 2023.
Become More Connected to Other Believers
Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return in drawing near.
Being connected to other believers is one of the most important aspects of effective discipleship. Not only does having Christian friends create a sense of accountability, but it also allows you to have a constant source of encouragement when you’re facing adversity. In the same way that it’s important for you to have accountability and encouragement, it’s equally important that you fill that need for the people God has placed in your life.
Obviously, you probably have some Christian friends who don’t attend the same church as you. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. However, one of the best ways to establish your network of other believers is to become more connected to the church that you regularly attend.
When you become connected to an established body of believers, you know that there are people who are on the same faith journey that you’re on. This allows you to find people who have faced the same things you’re facing who can advise you on how to overcome them. It also gives you access to solid Biblical teaching and preaching, which are necessities in the Christian’s life.
If you have been attending church but haven’t really become connected, make that one of your resolutions for the coming year.
Read the Bible All the Way Through
Psalm 119:105-106 (NLT)
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.
The Bible is a written copy of God’s will for His people. Unfortunately, we often become so overwhelmed by the size of the Bible that we struggle with knowing where to start when it comes to reading it. However, the onset of a new year provides us with an opportunity to start from scratch and read the entire Bible, cover to cover.
There are hundreds of reading plans available online that can help you break the Bible down into smaller chunks, making reading the whole thing not only easy, but also lifechanging. While it’s easy to look at the fact that the Bible has 66 books and think that there’s no way to read that much, when you break it down, it’s suddenly not nearly as daunting. In fact, if you read six chapters per day, you can read the entire Bible in a year.
David understood the importance of Scripture, and he only had access to the first five books of the Bible. The Books of Moses, (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) were the only Scriptures that the Old Testament heroes of the faith had. However, they recognized that those Scriptures, which were inspired by the Holy Spirit just like the writings of the New Testament were a vital part of living a Godly life.
Beginning on the first day of January, commit yourself to reading six chapters of the Bible every day. If you don’t think that you can read it straight through, that’s perfectly acceptable. Read three chapters from the Old Testament and three chapters from the New Testament. You can also throw in a single chapter from Psalms or Proverbs to give yourself access to a different type of writing.
When you finish reading the Bible, you will have better insight into how God wants you to live. That is at the heart of discipleship.
Pray About Everything
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could experience true peace in the coming year. All of us have stressors in life, and as along as we are living on this planet, we’re going to experience stress and adversity. However, the peace of God goes beyond what we can understand, and allows to experience peace and tranquility, even in the face of those things.
Paul explains that the key to finding that level of peace is found in praying about everything. We often treat prayer as a last resort. Once we’ve tried everything we know to do about a situation, we ask God to intervene. That isn’t His design. Instead, He wants us to run to Him first so He can fix everything for us.
Make a resolution to God and to yourself that you are going to pray more and worry less. This won’t be an overnight process, but you will quickly realize that the key to peace is found in relinquishing control and allowing God to have His way in your life.
Sharing Your Faith More
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
“You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Finally, make the commitment that the coming year is going to be a year where you share your faith. A large number of people consider themselves to be introverts, which can make the prospect of talking about your faith in Christ a scary one. However, sharing your faith doesn’t mean that you have to stand up in front of a crowd and share your faith journey. It can be as simple as having a conversation with an unchurched friend or family member.
A Pew research study from 2019 indicated that 33% of unchurched individuals acknowledged that they would go to church if someone would invite them. That is great news for those of us who may feel like we’re not well-spoken enough to talk about our faith in detail.
As a new year approaches, think about five people in your life who are not in a relationship with Christ. Then, commit to having some conversations with them in the coming year about becoming a Christian. These conversations can be as simple as an invite to attend church with you.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to make some needed spiritual changes in my life in 2023. Help me to overcome my fears and insecurities so I can be the disciple that You want me to be. In Christ’s name, Amen.