It’s the time of year when people put away their Christmas decorations and drag out the exercise equipment. For around 63% of Americans, New Year’s resolutions are the way to go. Whether it’s pursuing better health, going back to school, saving money, undertaking a better work/life balance, or finding a new career, New Year’s resolutions set the tone for a good portion of January’s economics, our conversations, and thoughts. Every one of us wants to be better in one form or another, and we hope – and pray – that by setting goals, we will be able to achieve them.
An inspiring fact: about 52% of New Year’s resolutions are kept within a month of making them. This inspires us to see that even if ideas aren’t kept long-term, they still can be. When we consider resolutions, we often think about what we can easily see. But what about spiritual resolutions?
One area we often skip when it comes to resolutions is our spiritual life. We are often so busy trying to fix what we can see, we forget about the important aspects of life we can’t see with the naked eye. 1 Timothy 4:8-9 gives us an important reminder about our thoughts and plans, especially when forgetting the eternal:
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. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. (NIV)
There’s nothing wrong with physical training, weight loss, good nutrition, saving money, or balancing life and career. The Bible isn’t saying forsake such things, but is reminding us that such things only matter while we are down here – not in light of eternity. This year, why not make some resolutions that will not just help this side of heaven, but your eternal life, as well? Here we will examine ten spiritual resolutions that you can easily make this year.
I’ve heard people say that you should aim to spend at least an hour a day in Bible study. This is a beautiful sentiment, but even I must admit to not always measuring up to it (and I’m a minister!). Despite our best efforts, sometimes 60 minutes for one spiritual activity is beyond our reach. Work runs late, traffic is heavier than usual, kids need attention, chores need doing, spouses need time. Life happens, and not everyone has the same amount of study time every day. Beyond this, not everyone has the same calling, and not everyone may be interested in 60 minutes of in-depth Bible study every day. Some are more inclined for shorter studies, others for devotional work, and others for in-depth study a few times per week. All is perfectly fine, and perfectly faithful.
If becoming the next great Bible scholar isn’t your thing, I recommend something a little different. Make the effort to spend 30 minutes with God daily, divided up into 10-minute segments:
Some people do their 30 minutes across the day: 10 minutes in the morning, 10 in the afternoon, and another 10 at night. Some do them all at once, and some break it up in other ways throughout the day. However you aim to do it, feel free to make the 30-minute block work for you.
It’s a little-known fact that the books of the Bible aren’t presented in chronological order. Based on oral traditions and then written down over a period of years, neither Christian or Jewish versions of the Bible present books in the order of events in which they happened. This can cause confusion when attempting to read the Bible cover-to-cover, not to mention when trying to study its contents. One of the best ways to better understand the Bible is to read it in chronological order (the order in which events happened).
There are a number of ways to achieve this. First, there are chronological study Bibles available that present Biblical readings in chronological order. (A side note: these Bibles are great as a study resource, but difficult to use if you are to preach or use them for your main study, simply because they aren’t in the same order as the average Bible). There are also reading plans that divide the Bible into daily readings for every day of the year to tackle the Bible in its chronological order. You can find a chronological Bible in a year reading plan here.
Though not as popular as they once were, devotional books are a great way to get a spiritual focus in a few minutes per day. The idea of a “devotional” message is a short spiritual lesson that can be read once per day throughout the year. There is a huge variety of devotional books available: everything from examination of Hebrew and Greek exegesis, to insightful stories, to direct revelations received by writers. Whatever you’re into, devotional books provide spiritual focus every day in five minutes or less.
It may seem trying every time a minister reminds you that you need to fellowship with other believers…but we say it for a reason. As much as we might all like the idea of spiritual independence, God has created us for community with one another. Before you say you’ve tried church and it didn’t work, I’m sure there are different restaurants you don’t like, but that doesn’t stop you from eating out all together. Different churches exist to meet different needs. Give a group – whether a church, a Bible study, or a small-group outreach a chance this year as one of your spiritual resolutions. It’ll improve your spiritual life exponentially!
Before I elaborate on this point, let me say: some people sincerely appreciate the language of the King James Version of the Bible. They appreciate what we now associate with its eloquence, and they are happy continuing to study from it. If that’s you, then more power to you. The truth is, however, that’s not the majority of believers. If you are a believer who is lost every time they pick up a King James, you are not alone. There is nothing wrong with you. In this year, instead of trying to get something from the archaic translation, you can resolve to do a new thing!
The King James Bible was written to stand as a vernacular (common man’s) translation in its day. That being said, the language within it doesn’t translate the same way today. It’s archaic, and some of the words used have entirely different meanings than they did back then. If you’re in need of a Bible update but unsure where to start, this is a great – and doable – New Year’s resolution.
Looking for a Bible that captures the thought of a passage? The New International Version is a great choice for you. Desire something that keeps the language of the Bible simple? The New Living Translation is a great choice. Want something that makes the Bible understandable with modern language? The Message or JB Philips New Testament can be a good resource. Want something that expounds Bible understanding? The Amplified Bible Classic and Expanded Bible are great choices. If you would like more insights into Bible translations, check out my podcast episode, Bible Translations for Normal People.
The modern Christian worship music scene is often controversial. Older generations don’t always appreciate the casual nature it often embraces. Some feel it’s not formal, nor respectful enough, for the sacred music of the church scene. Regardless, worship music represents a wide body of sounds, rhythms, cultures, and styles. If you are willing to look, there is something for everyone. Whether it’s medleys containing traditional and modern songs, modern sounds and new lyrics, or something in between, it’s the same praises of the era, just with a new melody.
Before I get into this suggestion, know I am not saying you should spend thousands of dollars to go on a retreat. I’m the first to acknowledge that the idea of “retreat” is often associated with money, and that’s not what I’m talking about here. What I am suggesting: take a weekend this year and spend it with God. Sometimes churches host annual retreats at resorts or campgrounds, and some organizations also offer the chance to go on a themed retreat (such as for women, leaders, etc.). If you aren’t in a position to go on one of these (due to cost or availability), take a day or two off this year and spend it focused on spiritual things.
Fasting is a worldwide concept. It’s the principle of giving something up to draw closer to God. In fasting, we give something up and in place of that thing, we focus more on our spiritual lives. Historically speaking, fasts usually involve abstinence of food. In a world where we can pick up or put down dieting like it’s nothing, I’m not so sure food is the thing that’s keeping us from spiritual victory. If you’re looking for spiritual resolutions in this new year, I challenge you to a media fast.
Why media? I believe media is a huge distraction of our spiritual lives. With constant feeds on television, social media, and now our phones, we are inundated with information that lacks spiritual substance. Between fake news, artificial stories, AI, and people’s opinions, it’s hard to know what’s true from what isn’t. With so much background noise, sometimes the major voice we need to silence is the one that hums and drones between voices on social media. Take three days and declare it a period of “media cleansing,” one that helps you get closer to God and further away from invasive voices.
When we think about “quality time,” it’s usually spent with a family member or a friend. When was the last time you spent some time with your spiritual leader? Understanding that it’s easy for us to all get busy, if it’s been awhile since you’ve sat down with your leader for coffee, lunch, or just a catch-up, this year is a great time to make sure you spend some time together.
Church volunteers are always in demand for helps ministries. As Christians, we should never be so busy that we don’t have time to do something good for someone else. Whether it’s A/V ministry, technical assistance, nursery, Sunday School, greeting, hospitality, administrative work, or something else, your church needs you to do more than warm a seat on Sundays. Under the heading of spiritual resolutions, find a ministry in your church that needs your help…and help out!
Spiritual life something we often let slide. Our lives are busy, and often filled with many things. As we spoke about in the beginning, there’s nothing wrong with activities and pursuits that better us. We shouldn’t lose sight, though, of our spiritual well-being. While most things of this world will pass away, our spiritual lives will not. In your list of resolutions this year, don’t forget your spiritual resolutions, too. Such will help encourage you through difficult times and empower you to live your life to the fullest…regardless of your other resolutions for the year.
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