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New Year Resolutions Template
Having a New Year Resolutions Template can save you time and keep you on track for planning the New Year. If you are like many others you go through this process every year. Often you start from scratch each year.
I was one of those who set down each year and decided I needed a plan; but where to start? What if we had a template and all we needed to do was fill it in with our new goals and hopes?
My goals as a Christian will always center on what I believe Jesus would do and how I can move in that direction. So our template will emphasize eight aspects of our relationship with God.
I don’t know about you but I need to look back at my successes and my failures each year. This is my starting point. How did I do last year? How can I do better this year?
My Template starts with Recognizing God
Yes, I know, this seems obvious; however, it should always be our starting point in all things. Often we forget such an important part of our life.
Living righteously before God requires us to examine our relationship with Him. We know that He is and that He created all things, but do we make a conscious effort to focus our lives on Him?
It takes more than knowledge of God to do what Jesus says in Mark 12:30 NKJV. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.
Each year I must look at my actions and decide if I am keeping the first commandment.
Next, I must look at my prayer life.
Without a doubt, most of us do not pray enough. So this is an area that we must consider as a required part of our New Year Resolutions Template.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NKJV Paul tells us, pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
If you are a little like me you may get busy with the tasks of life and forget to pray about what is going on around you. Prayer is a constant recognition of God’s presence in your daily life.
And what about giving thanks? It took me years to learn to live with an attitude of thanksgiving. Until you reach the point of thanking God for everything, you need to work on it.
Bible Study
I am a strong advocate of reading the whole Bible each year. Each time Carol and I read it, we see something that seems new to us or we understand a little more.
You can download a free PDF of our Bible Reading Calendar by clicking HERE. It takes about twenty minutes a day to read the entire Bible in one year.
However, reading is not enough. It is like trying to be a Sunday Christian and living the rest of the week for yourself. Dipping your toe into God’s Word will not grow your understanding or your relationship with God.
Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV, 15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
You need to plan time to read, but you must also study God’s Word to grow in righteousness. Show yourself a workman that does not need to be ashamed.
What about your giving?
Each year you should reevaluate your giving. I remember when I first started tithing and how hard it seemed. My income was five times what it is now but it was still a hard commitment.
I believe that the Old Testament tithe is a good place to start. However, it is important to realize that everything you have belongs to God. He wants you to be a good steward of what He has given you until He returns.
Your tithe is a symbol of your commitment to God’s ownership of your life.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:2 NKJV, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
The Apostle points out that we should give regularly as God prospers us.
He also points out these truths in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NKJV Paul says, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Every year we look closely at how we are using His resources. Carol and I have found that with only one-fifth of what I used to make we have all we need. Each year we look at ways we can give more from the bounty God gives us.
How does God want you to use that with which He has blessed you?
Is it for yourself or others?
Personal Ministry
As Christians God gives each of us a special ministry. What is yours? Does He want you to expand it or maybe add a new ministry? This is why we examine what we do each year and plan for the New Year.
God called Carol and me to an online ministry. Our website is IAmCalls.com. We write messages such as this and inspirational pieces to encourage Christians to walk as Jesus did.
We are thrilled to see our messages being read in many different countries. Every week we see people in China, Africa, and throughout Europe reading about Jesus.
My much older brother, Walter, when he was 93 or 94, pointed out to us that there were seasons in our lives. At one time God called me to preach. Later in life, He called me to write.
In my case, previously, I had hated to write. However, now that God has called me to write, I find that I enjoy it.
I encourage each of you to search your heart for how God wants to use you. God made each of us with different abilities. He also sometimes calls us to areas where we would rather not go.
I included this as part of the New Year Resolutions Template because I believe we need to keep our minds open to changes God may make in our lives.
Love and Service
Every year I believe that we should examine our lives to see if we are showing God’s love to others. We often give lip service to the idea of loving others, but do we love even those within the Church?
Jesus says in John 15:12 NKJV, “12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. It is so important that we love even those we disagree with and who do not even like us. Jesus died for those who nailed Him to the cross.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment He answered and then added, “ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Mark 12:31 NKJV
Scripture is clear that if we love our neighbors we will serve them. In Ephesians 2:10 NKJV Paul says, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Faith does save, however, James says in James 2:18 NIV, But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
This New Year Resolutions Template would not be complete without looking at our conduct toward those in need of our help.
Finally, Evangelize
All the other points listed above have no meaning without our planning to obey God and evangelize the world. Each year we should ask ourselves if we have done all we could and how we can do better this year.
Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15 NKJV
Jesus commanded us to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16 NIV
We need to understand a few key Scriptures and be able to share them with others:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 NKJV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NKJV
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10 NKJV
The Bible says, 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
You should not need a resolution for this one, but I did and do. As my life changed through reading God’s Word and praying I came to an understanding of one very important fact.
I needed to obey God. This was something that I have always known, but we often let the things of the world turn our attention elsewhere.
Conclusion
There are many more scriptural resolutions you could and should make, but these are a starting place. If you follow just these it will change your life and make you a life changer for others.
Carol and I pray that the peace of God be with you through this coming year! May He fill you with joy regardless of what the world throws at you.
I hope this helps you with your New Year’s resolutions!