After we settle down from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, put away the Christmas tree, turn off the Christmas lights, and give away all our gifts, we turn toward the new year with hope and anticipation. While Christmas is a time for family and celebrating the birth of our Savior, the new year brings hope that our lives will be better than they were the year before. We create all sorts of resolutions and find ways to improve our marriages, our health, our finances, and our personal lives. But sometimes we’ve neglected to include one of the most essential parts of our lives: Jesus.

This year, we can make it a new year full of increased spiritual growth, deeper intimacy with God, and a deeper understanding of his word. The first thing we must do is increase our intentionality. It takes intentionality and effort to incorporate Christ in every aspect of our lives. This is because the word of God is sometimes antithetical to our own desires to improve our lives. 

Sometimes the Lord will strip us financially when we want to increase our wealth. We may make resolutions to increase our exercise and change our diets, but God also wants to use a focus on spiritual health to draw us closer to him. If you find incorporating Christ into your New Year’s resolutions is difficult, here are some ways that may help:

Read His Word

It is challenging to incorporate Jesus into our lives if we don’t know much about him. The best way we get to know him is through his word. If you haven’t already, make a resolution to read through the Bible cover to cover in the following year. Although there are many methods for accomplishing this, one is to do it chronologically; the other is to read it cover to cover. It is challenging to integrate the principles discussed in the Bible if we haven’t read it. Additionally, try to read the bible in a new translation. This emphasizes words and messages we may not have noticed before. We may find that sometimes our resolutions conflict with God’s desire for us. This might be part of the reason why we haven’t seen that type of improvement in that area of our lives. When we choose to align our lives with God’s will for us, the rest of our lives align with it.

Focus on Your Soul

We often attend church services and devote a small chunk of our morning to God before we race off into the rest of our to-do list. But this method often puts God in a box. We place God in a compartment in our lives, never to think about him again, the rest of the day. We also want to improve areas of our lives without focusing on issues of sin or other hindrances that may be preventing us from growing spiritually.

Take some time to research, read some books, and listen to some podcasts on spiritual growth. In what areas of your life do you need to grow the most? For example, if you find you lack a fruit of the Holy Spirit— self-control, for example —buy some books and listen to some podcasts on that topic. If you can’t find books geared explicitly towards self-control, expand your search and read books on the fruit of the Spirit. Ask friends to suggest resources on the topic you are looking to explore.

Additionally, there may be other issues hidden in your soul that are impeding you from knowing God more intimately. For example, are there people in your life to whom you need to forgive? There are excellent resources on forgiveness. Read them and follow their practices. Forgiveness is not a one-time deal: it is a process. No matter where you are in your journey, and even if you can’t fully forgive someone, God will be pleased that you are taking the action of trying to improve in that area.

Surrender to the Process

Don’t get frustrated if you find spiritual growth takes longer than expected. It is easier to focus on areas of our lives that we can change with our own methods. For example, we can easily get a second job or do a side gig to improve our finances. Furthermore, incorporating exercise and changing our diet are relatively easy ways to improve our health, since there are many resources to help us do so. But spiritual growth is a lengthy process that can take many years.

We will never be perfect in this life. But we must take action steps to get as far along in the process as possible. In the moments when you feel frustrated, surrender your frustrations to God. Pour out your heart to Him and tell him all that you’re feeling. He understands your frustrations and concerns. Take solace in the fact that God is honored simply because you are taking a step of faith and improving your spiritual growth. Honoring God is our aim, no matter what resolution we are trying to accomplish.

Making New Year’s resolutions is a great way to start the year. However, it is essential not to neglect one of the most critical aspects of your life: your spiritual life. Try these suggestions above or create your own so that this year is the year you remember growing in your faith in leaps and bounds!Help us to take down walls so that intentional and meaningful conversation occurs. We thank You for this. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

• 
  Titus: Truth, Grace, and Godly Living in a Broken World
  For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to …
• 
  A Prayer for Hope after a Hard Year
  One thing I’ve noticed after living a lot of years is that some years…are just harder than others. Most all …
• 
  How to Pray Powerful Prayers
  My husband drove me to the hospital. I was sure my death grip on the car’s door handles would leave …
• 
  Philemon: The Gospel of Reconciliation
  “I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and …
• 
  How to Incorporate Christ into Your New Year’s Resolutions
  After we settle down from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, put away the Christmas tree, turn off …