January 1st marks the start of a new year. For many, January 1st also marks the start of new goals or resolutions that one hopes to achieve before the year’s end. Most new year’s resolutions center around diet and exercise. These resolutions often start great, but by the time January 14th rolls around, most diets have been forgotten and gym memberships are no longer used. While diet and exercise or any other new year’s resolution one makes are important, the most valuable resolutions and goals we can make are those of a spiritual nature.
As we enter 2023, let us be challenged to make spiritual resolutions and stick to them. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us that we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (NKJV). As Christians, let’s set our sights on growing closer to our Savior and to our God in this new year. The brevity of this article by no means allows us to offer an exhaustive list, but below I want to suggest some possible goals that we as a congregation might be able to accomplish together. If we will set out together to fulfill the resolutions, we can hold one another accountable and strive together to grow closer to our God.
- Read through the Bible in a year.
- Work to attend Bible classes and worship each week.
- Attend any special workshops or Gospel Meetings set up by our elders.
- Make it a point to be present at any fellowship opportunity.
- Extend invitations to our services to family and friends.
- Invite someone to study God’s word.
These resolutions are merely suggestions to help you grow closer to God as we enter the new year. My prayer is that whatever resolutions you might make would bring you closer to God. For as we “draw near to God,” James tells us by inspiration that “He will draw near to [us]” (Jas. 4:8).
Preston McElyea (January 1, 2023)