As the new year approaches, many people write resolutions in hopes of improving their lives. However, according to studies, the vast majority don't keep their resolutions. They often quit before the end of January, leaving them distressed and hopeless that their lives will improve.
Additionally, many people make resolutions to improve their lives in areas where they want to see prosperity. But have you ever considered making Christ-centered resolutions that will make you more Christlike?
With ingenuity, effort, and dedication, you can change your daily routine and become more focused on Christ by following these suggestions. Here are five ways to make Christ the center of your life in the coming year:
Try a New Discipline
For many of us, reading the Bible is a staple of our spiritual life. But there is so much more to merely reading the Word and praying. For example, it’s not only important to pray, but also to hear from the Holy Spirit. Yet, so many people fail to exercise their spiritual muscle. Set a timer for 10 minutes and practice listening to the Holy Spirit. Get a blank journal and write down anything that comes to your mind, even thoughts that may distract you. Write down anything you hear.
At the end of the 10 minutes, reflect on what you heard. In what way did God speak to you? Write that down as well. The more you become in tune with the way God speaks to you, the more you'll be able to distinguish your thoughts from His. This is called discernment, and it is one of the deeper gifts that every church needs to grow spiritually.
It is not only important to read the Word, but also essential to study it. If you have any extra Christmas money, try investing in Bible software or a new commentary. Take a passage of Scripture and read what the scholars have to say about its meaning. You may be surprised to see how much you have gotten out of the Word by studying it.
You can also invest in a study Bible or lexicon to get the original Greek meaning of the words used in the passage. Understanding the original Greek will help put words into context. Because it is easy to take passages out of context or manipulate them to say what we want, we can lose their proper meaning. Studying the original Greek or using a Bible translation is imperative for understanding the word in a new way.
Read a New Bible Translation
As the New Year approaches, try a different Bible translation. Forget the old NIV and NLT stand-bys. There are some excellent translations that not only give different meanings to the words but can also help you see the passages in new ways. When one passage says it one way, you may read another translation, and it may speak to you in a whole new way because you chose to read it in a different translation.
If you have difficulty reading the Bible consistently, enlist the help of a friend or even some friends to help you in this endeavor. Vow to meet regularly to discuss what you read. Make your weekly commitment something you know you can do. For example, if you don't feel you have more than a few minutes a day to invest in Bible reading, make the required passage that you interact with together only one or two chapters.
Similarly, it becomes difficult to fulfill New Year's resolutions because they're too lofty, and the same applies to their Bible reading. Because we, in our zeal, want to grow spiritually, we may bite off more than we can chew when it comes to what we can do daily. Set some small goals and go from there. Increase and implement more goals as you can. You will feel more successful by achieving small goals than you would if you fail to meet the goals that are too big for you to accomplish on your own.
Get Accountable
In this era of large Bible churches, it's easy to get stuck in sin and not have accountability. Yet, some of your best accountability partners can be those seated next to you in your weekly church pew or trusted friends who are growing alongside you in your faith. Find someone you trust and confide in them that you are struggling with a sin. Ask them to keep you accountable by checking in with you each week.
Ask them to keep you on track by checking in with you daily if necessary. If you find that you're not accomplishing freedom, seek the help of a pastor or elder who may be able to help you in this endeavor. Although we will never be perfect in this life, God does want us to pursue righteousness. It is essential to live a life worthy of the gospel by striving to keep our lives as sin-free as possible.
If you have difficulty trusting people around you, seek the help of someone who lives a great distance from you. Pick someone outside your church family so you don't feel judged or embarrassed when you see them each week. Arrange a weekly Zoom or phone call to check in with them. Regardless of who you choose, select someone who you know will keep your confidentiality, do what's best for you, challenge you in new and exciting ways, and celebrate with you when you achieve success.
Join a Community
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have not yet fully returned to church. Because there was a period when people merely watched church on television, it quickly became the norm in people's spiritual lives. However, Hebrews 10:25 is clear when it comes to regular church attendance: “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
If you have not found a church community, be sure to do so soon. Meet together regularly. There is nothing like the experiences of regular worship together. It is simply not the same to watch it on a television screen. Being there in person to experience the Holy Spirit is an experience that cannot be replicated on a television screen. Being part of a regular community allows you to make new friends, get accountability when needed, and access financial and other health resources. The church shines when it is serving those in need.
The church is the place where we prepare well and serve people in love and mercy. By taking accountability, reading a different Bible translation, engaging in a new spiritual discipline, and getting regular community, you may find that the coming year is one in which you grow in leaps and bounds in your faith.
Whatever effort you choose to put forth, do so consistently. God honors your consistency. Even if you can't do all the things listed in this article, do what you can to increase your spiritual growth, keep your mind focused on Christ each day, and commune with other like-minded brothers and sisters each week. By following these suggestions, you will find that you keep Christ at the center of your life throughout the year.
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