New Year’s Resolutions to Strengthen Your Faith
New Year’s Resolutions to Strengthen Your Faith
Christ-followers talk a lot about faith and trust, but that doesn’t mean Christian walk is passive. God also expects us to play an active role in how we live our lives.
Proverbs 13:4 says, “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” And again in Colossians 4:5, we see a similar verse, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”
It’s evident that God wants us to live life with intentionality — what better place to start than with some New Year’s resolutions? Here, our team at Elevate Community Church shares a few faith-strengthening goals that can help you obey God’s call to live with purpose and in thought and deed.
Read your Bible (and other books)
The Bible is God’s direct line of communication with us. Through it, we learn about who He is and how He wants us to live lives that please Him. We can also find support, comfort, and guidance nestled in every verse.
That’s why we encourage you to start off this year by getting into the habit of reading daily. The best time is the time that works best for you, whether that’s right away in the morning, over your lunch, or right before bed.
Don’t know where to start? We suggest starting with the first four books of the New Testament known as the Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John chronicle Jesus’ ministry on earth, and they serve as a great jumping-off place.
Or you could find a reading plan like these or a topical devotional to get you into the habit of daily reading.
There are also hundreds of Christian authors who have written on a variety of topics. Find a list of titles for teens and young adults here and for adults here.
Make church a habit
This is not because we think God is keeping an attendance record or because we want to see our numbers improve. Going to church is a direct command from God’s word. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us: ”And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
This is because church is one of the best places you can find an authentic community. Every Sunday you gather with fellow believers who are ready and willing to help you on your spiritual journey, in addition to biblically grounded messages from our lead pastor Chris Ver Steeg.
Pray more often
If the Bible is the best way to hear from God, then prayer is the best way for Him to hear from us. This year, make it a goal not only to set aside a dedicated time for prayer but to have a continuous conversation with God throughout your day.
Join a group
Here at Elevate Community Church, we know that the Christian walk is not one you make alone. That’s why we offer the following groups and classes:
Essentials
Financial Peace University
Connection Group
Make it a goal this year to step out of your comfort zone and find your people.
Share your faith
Matthew 28:16-20 makes it very clear: we are to go out into the world and share our faith with everyone. Even for the most seasoned believer, this can be a daunting task. But that’s where the last verse comes in.
Jesus says that He will be with us to the very end.
If sharing your faith is on your heart this new year, remember that even if you face rejection and persecution, God is still moving and Jesus is still with you.
Find where you fit
In addition to going out into the world, we’re also instructed to focus on our immediate circle and use our spiritual gifts to serve others. We have plenty of volunteer and service opportunities within the church from our children’s ministry to tech and design. Talk to us to find out where you fit this year!
Consider tithing
Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “What do you have that you did not receive?” We can apply this question to just about anything we have — talent, time, joy, and, yes, money.
If you frame your paychecks in this mindset, recognizing that you wouldn’t have them in the first place without God’s providence, then you may feel inclined to give back some of your earnings in praise and reverence.
That is what tithing is. Tithing is not an outward, attention-getting action. Tithing is not a prerequisite to salvation. Tithing is a regular practice of worship and a habit that brings you closer to God.
Try memorizing scripture
Why do you fill your garage and junk drawer with tools? Why not run to the store or your neighbor when your sink is broken? That’s because when the worst happens and you need to fix something, you want to have the necessary tools at your fingertips.
That’s how we want you to approach memorizing scripture.
When you have a Rolodex of verses stored in your memory, you can pull them out and meditate on them whenever you need them. There are some great apps like these that help you memorize verses.
Do a heart scan
Maybe your New Year’s resolution needs to revolve around a heart issue. You might consider the following:
Overcoming an addiction
Resisting a temptation
Forgiving a hurt
Showing more love
Being content
Avoiding gossip
Curbing complaining
In other words, do a heart scan, and as Psalm 139:23-24 says, ask God to search your heart, know your thoughts, and lead you in an everlasting way.
If you’d like help getting started with your New Year’s resolution, we want to help. You can reach out to us on social media or send us an email to talk with one of our friendly staff members. You can also find past sermons, info about our support groups, and much more on our website.
