I love starting a new year. There is excitement about what can happen, and the possibilities seem endless. My work schedule allows for a slower pace to finish out one year and prepare to start a new one in fresh ways.
Every January is an opportunity for us to think about the year ahead and what we hope to improve upon in our lives. Since most New Year’s resolutions do not survive the first week of January, it seems appropriate to talk about this topic in the second week of January.
How can I make the most of the new year? Here are some simple suggestions:
1. Set a few realistic goals. My magic number for goal setting is 10 because I need boundaries. I could set a hundred goals because setting goals is exciting. Completing those goals, however, is more challenging. Consider a few categories including family, personal, work and spiritual goals. Set goals that are challenging, yet obtainable. Find a way to track them throughout the year and celebrate your progress along the way. Be sure and have a simple plan with each goal because as all of us have heard, a goal without a plan is just a wish.
2. Determine your most important priorities. Some priorities never change, but others do — given our season in life and the opportunities available to us. Spending daily time with God in His word, a commitment to our family and a local church and doing our work as if we are doing it for Christ will be an annual priority for every believer. However, others may be added. Maybe one of your priorities for this year is to set aside time each day for reading books. Maybe you would like to learn to share your faith or serve in one of the ministries of your church. Determine those priorities and then pray and plan on how to pursue them.
3. Establish healthier routines. Eating right and consistent exercise routines are both an ongoing challenge for me. There are lots of reasons for this, but in the end, they are just excuses that can all be overcome with a reliance on the self-control that comes to every believer as the fruit of the Spirit. I read this quote by Dr. Barry Gibson about repentance: “The remarkable evidence of authentic repentance is that a person keeps on repenting.” If you struggle with healthy routines as I do, then continue to confess it to God and ask Him to help you establish better habits for diet and exercise.
4. Schedule significant events. There are things we need to put on our calendar each year so as not to overschedule. We need to annually set aside time for family vacations, certain holidays, important Christian gatherings, conferences and more. Like many people, I have a certain number of vacation days each year. Our family takes an annual vacation around the 4th of July, so that is already on my schedule. My wedding anniversary is in April, so I scheduled time off around that time as well.
5. Decide to invest in your walk with God. The gospel is not just for saving, but for living. Dr. Justin Irving, in his book on organizational leadership, quotes Tim Keller as saying, “The gospel is not just the ABCs but the A to Z of the Christian life.” The gospel is for every day. The gospel saves me from hell, and it saves me from living a self-centered life while headed to heaven. The greatest investment you and I can make in the year ahead is one that helps us know God better and live in greater dependence on Him. Whether it is meditating on Scripture or joining a community group in your church, find a way to invest in your walk with God in the year ahead.
It is okay if you are already a little into the new year before you work on some of these. There is still time. Get a cup of coffee. Find a comfortable spot. Make some plans that will be pleasing to God, good for others and good for you. Happy New Year!
Dr. Todd Gray 