A New Year’s Resolution for Your Soul

Despite the turmoil that interrupted so much of our lives in 2020, I stuck to several new year’s resolutions I had made for myself at the end of 2019. One of those was to have a more regular exercise routine. Give or take a week or two, I did an intense Tae Bo workout four to five mornings each week (punching and kicking is quite therapeutic). When I first began, my stretched muscles protested in pain. But after a few days of working through that and staying mentally determined, they surrendered and strengthened. I knew that I had to keep at it, or I would have to start all over and face those screaming muscles again. Was it always easy? No. There were plenty of excuses and interruptions to my schedule that I could have used to justify not pushing myself each day. But after a few weeks, and then months, the thought of not working out made me feel guilty. After a few more months, I even started to look forward to the adrenaline rush and the feeling of accomplishment. Eventually, I saw rewards in more toned muscles and feeling healthier overall.

Each new year, many people focus on making resolutions that will strengthen their physical bodies, maybe even their minds. But there is another part of our life that is even more important, though it is often the last to be considered. Can I encourage you to make a new year’s resolution for your soul? It’s truly foundational to everything else good we could do for ourselves.

Reading the Bible through each year is a great way to keep your mind and spirit focused on things above. I have been doing this for about 10 years now, and each year the Lord reveals new understanding. Countless times the Scriptures for each day lined up with other things I’ve been learning or were the exact word of challenge or encouragement I needed for that moment. Being in the Word will always provide benefits. Just like exercising, though, it’s not always easy. The Bible is a big book, and it can get overwhelming and maybe even seem a bit dry at times (think Leviticus). But the more you do it, the more dedicated you remain, the more benefits you will see. Remember – this is God’s Word to us, it is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). One of the things I’ve learned is how this can go quickly from a task to a privilege if I ask God to show me more of Himself and His truth even before I open the pages for that day. He will always answer that prayer. He shows me how to avoid evil and to focus on the life that’s found in His message to us: “Blessed is the man (and woman) who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night…” (Psalm 1:1-2)

There are different reading plans that you can check out. Whether you want to follow a Genesis to Revelation daily reading plan, read chronologically, read just the New Testament, or read just a few days a week – any goal to read more of Scripture is a good one. Here is a good site to check out for some reading plans.

Coinciding with regular interaction in God’s Word is communicating with God regularly. The apostle Paul urged first-century Christians to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This is an ongoing communion with God, to stay connected with Him for continued power, strength, wisdom, encouragement.

In obedience, followers of Christ are called to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) – not that we can earn our own salvation, but in the attitude of submission to God who alone can save, we remember that “it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (2:13) and that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6). We’re to pay attention, be focused, and to be ready. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13).

If such a resolution becomes just another determination that dies out within the first month (as so many new year’s resolutions do), we will never experience the incomparable benefits of life lived in the love and power of God. We must be determined to live each day with the proper focus, our minds and bodies dedicated in thankfulness to the work of God: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). In recognition of God’s mercy upon our lives, we are to respond a certain way: “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual (reasonable) act of worship” (Romans 12:1). In so doing, we will be transformed, and we will gain supernatural wisdom to know and to obey God’s will (Romans 12:2). I’ve heard it said that the problem with living sacrifices is that they have a tendency to keep crawling off the alter. So pay attention, be determined, keep your eyes on Jesus and trust in the leading and empowering of His Spirit.

The time is coming when those who remain faithful will be rewarded. If we obey God and trust Him, no matter what the cost, no matter what persecution may come our way, we are being refined and made ready for our heavenly home. So take heart, precious one, and stay focused on eternity: “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).