Spiritual Growth in the New Year
By Tori Harris
2024 stands before us, full of opportunities. Many people dedicate the end of each year to thinking about their goals and dreams, creating resolutions in order to achieve them. This can be an effective way of setting goals for self-improvement. Common resolutions include maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly (we’ve all seen the crowded gyms on New Year’s Day), managing finances better, and learning a new skill or hobby. However, spiritual resolutions often get overlooked, despite the fact that they are actually the most important goals we can set for ourselves.
As Christians, we are commanded to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). No one comes up out of the waters of baptism knowing everything there is to know about the Lord, His church, or life as a Christian. We have a responsibility to keep learning and improving, growing closer and closer in our relationship with God. Growth is to always be taking place, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of a year. However, setting spiritual New Year’s resolutions can be a beneficial way of setting goals and methods to more effectively achieve growth and progress in our lives as Christians. Let’s look at a few resolutions that can benefit us and bring more glory to God.
Deepen Bible Study
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth - 2 Timothy 2:15
Bible study is an essential part of the Christian life. We cannot obey our Lord and Master if we do not know what He commands us to do. The plan of salvation is simple, but there is so much more contained in Scripture that we will never learn unless we study it. God did not waste paper, ink, or time. All of His written Word is for our benefit. If we only open our Bibles during the Sunday morning sermon or Wednesday night Bible class, we are not growing. Consistent Bible study is vital. In order to achieve this goal, each individual must determine a routine and method that is the most beneficial.
Spend More Time in Prayer
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly - Matthew 5:6
Prayer and Bible study go hand in hand. God speaks to us through His Word, and in return, we speak to Him through prayer. We have the ear of God Almighty, Creator of the universe and Author of salvation. At any point in time, we can go to Him in prayer, knowing that He is listening to every word and that He will answer. How incredible is that? A Christian cannot grow without developing her prayer life, so thus we need to make sure we never take this tremendous privilege for granted. Just like with Bible study, establishing a routine, including specific times to pray and specific things to pray about, can do much to develop our prayer lives and strengthen our relationships with God.
Become More Evangelistic
Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white unto harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together - John 4:35b-36
God entrusted us with His precious, soul-saving message. If we don’t take it to others, who will? You don’t have to go far to realize that this world is filled with religious confusion. The majority claim to be Christians, yet they all do things differently. Why? There is only one gospel, only one message of salvation (Ephesians 4:4-6), and it is up to us to give the world the truth that it so desperately needs. Evangelism is a daunting task for many, but we can take it one step at a time to make it more achievable. We all know people who are lost. We can make goals to pray for them, reach out to them, and not only invite them to worship services but ask if they would be interested in having a personal Bible study. God does not command us to do the impossible. We can lead souls to Him!
The Christian life is a proactive life. We are here for a reason, and every aspect of our lives should be reflecting that. Let us strive together in this new year to grow spiritually, glorifying God and bringing more souls to His kingdom!