What is your Christ-centered New Year\u2019s resolution? Do you know how to create a Christian New Year\u2019s resolution that will upgrade your spiritual life and propel your relationship with God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I will share 5 questions that can help with creating impactful New Year\u2019s resolutions for Christians. New Year\u2019s resolutions that will actually cultivate change and spiritual growth. So, without further ado, let\u2019s go ahead and look at the list, and then we can dive into each question a little deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 questions to ask yourself that will help you create a meaningful Christ-centered New Year\u2019s resolution:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Where is your current relationship with God?<\/li>
2. Does your lifestyle point to Christ\/Are you living a Christian life?<\/li>
3. Are you hearing from God?<\/li>
4. Do you feel His presence?<\/li>
5. Do you feel God working an internal change within you?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

   New Year\u2019s Resolutions for Christians Should Look a Little Different<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

   The new year is only a matter of weeks away. We\u2019re coming to the end of what has been a very challenging year for the entire world. And it\u2019s usually about this time that people start to reflect and start to plan for positive changes in the upcoming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Creating a New Year\u2019s resolution is such a popular thing to do. And even though most of us seem to drop our New Year\u2019s goals only weeks into the year, it\u2019s still a nice idea to set goals that foster growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   However, New Year\u2019s resolutions for Christians might look a little different, or at least I hope they do. Because our resolutions and goals should include and invite God into the mix to help us succeed. As Christians, it\u2019s important to create goals for the New Year that will bring us closer to God and bring glory to the Father. It\u2019s fine to have health and fitness goals, financial goals, relationship goals, etc. But what\u2019s so amazing is that if we choose to put God at the top and the center of all those goals, we are more likely to succeed because of Him.<\/p>\n\n\n

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   But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.<\/em><\/p>\nMathew 6:33<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

   God can direct and guide us in our health and fitness journeys. He can teach us how to handle our finances, and He can help us with our relationships. But if He\u2019s not in it, nothing we succeed at is long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Bad habits and patterns usually develop over many years. And no matter how many New Year\u2019s resolutions we come up with year after year, a lot of times we continue to struggle with the same ole\u2019 problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   We search for solutions all over the place, forgetting that the ultimate solution is the Creator of all things good; the power Source of life. When we plug into the power Source, we are fueled and ready to take on the tasks of the day, the week, the year. But without the Source, we are weak and tired and it\u2019s difficult to fight the temptations of the flesh and the enemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   So, I challenge you to write an additional New Year\u2019s resolution this year. A resolution that not only includes God but is all about God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   How to Write a New Year\u2019s Resolution for Christians?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

   Writing a Christ-centered New Year\u2019s resolution shouldn\u2019t be super difficult or complicated (that\u2019s where the questions come into play). It\u2019s not about designing some complicated statement that either doesn\u2019t mean anything, or that means too much and will leave you overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n

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   It\u2019s simply about coming up with a resolution, a faith-based goal that will take you to the next spiritual level. A resolution that will skyrocket your spiritual walk, and help you fall more in love with Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Your objective is simply to 1) Figure out what you need\/want to work on spiritually, and 2) State how you plan to accomplish it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   As you\u2019re reading through the questions and start to figure out your answers, it should start to become clearer. Your answers can help you figure out what to focus on spiritually in the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Okay, let\u2019s dive into the questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   1. Where is your current relationship with God?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

   We need to be very honest with ourselves with this question. Ultimately, you know where your relationship is with God. You know if it\u2019s practically nonexistent or if it needs a little more attention. Search your heart and truly investigate where you stand. Because as we know, scripture tells us that many will call out to God in the end, but He will turn many away because He did not know them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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   Many will say to Me in that day, \u2018Lord, Lord, have wenot prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?\u2019 ^{23 <\/sup><\/strong>Andthen I will declare to them, \u2018I never knew you;depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\nMathew 7:22-23<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n}

   In the new year, it\u2019s time to turn up the heat. It\u2019s time to get EXTRA serious about our faith. It\u2019s time to get to know God and His ways. And if this is an area where you need growth, perhaps it\u2019s a good idea to center your resolution around building your relationship with the Father.<\/p>\n\n\n

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   2. Does your lifestyle point to Christ\/Are you living a Christian life?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

   God doesn\u2019t expect us to be perfect. In fact, He knows we cannot. And that\u2019s why He sent Himself down in the flesh to die for the many sins we\u2019d all inevitably commit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   However, we are still expected to repent and TRY to live righteously and to live in such a way that honors and glorifies God. So, the question becomes, are you trying?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   What areas of Christian living do you need to improve? Does your prayer life need a boost? Do you need to take Bible study more seriously? Do you forget to make worship a part of your routine? When is the last time you fasted? Are you using grace as a license to sin? Can your friends and family tell that you\u2019re a Christian by how you live and the decisions you make?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Really examine your life and see if there are any areas that need a little extra TLC as we go into the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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   3. Are you hearing from God?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

   The Bible tells us that when Jesus died, the veil was split. We now have direct access to the Father. So you can go directly to God whenever you need to. And as a saved Christian, you have the gift of the Holy Spirit within you to strengthen you on your spiritual walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   So, if you are not hearing from God at all, like ever, this could be a good area to focus on in the new year. Use the new year to figure out why you\u2019re not hearing from Him. Or why you seem unable to recognize His voice in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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   At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split<\/em>.<\/p>\nMathew 27:51<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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   4. Do you feel God\u2019s presence?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

   Are you experiencing the presence and glory of God in your life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   For example, when you\u2019re in prayer, or worship, do you feel the presence of God fill the space? Do you know what that feels like? Have you experienced His supreme peace in times of anxiety, or felt an overwhelming urge to pray or bow down in worship?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   This year, 2020, is probably the first time I truly felt the unique<\/em> presence of God. I\u2019ve had moments where His glory would just hit me out of nowhere. I would be filled with an urgent desire to worship or pray. I would suddenly feel grieved in the spirit for all the lost souls, or God would literally show up through my words and have me speak a word that I knew didn\u2019t come from my own thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Oh, those moments are so precious. What an honor it is to experience His presence. I am obsessed with experiencing more of Him. But it was something that I asked for, prayed for, and something that I continue to work toward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   If you want to experience the unique, unmatched presence of the Holy Spirit, maybe your resolution should be centered around seeking this experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   5. Do you feel God working an internal change within you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

   Do you feel the old man inside of you dying and see a new you emerging? In other words, are you noticing changes in your desires, cravings, and interests? Are your wants starting to align more with the will of God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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   Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him\u2014in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus\u2014 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.<\/em><\/p>\nEphesians 4:22-24<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

   When we truly let God in, He starts to do an internal work within us, and we start to notice changes. We start to have our eyes opened, and our hearts softened. Our perspectives begin to be challenged and we begin to see things in a brand new way. Are you noticing these things happen in your life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   If not, maybe next year you can focus on inviting and allowing God to do a new work in you and make in you a clean heart. To help you see as He sees and want what He wants. To help you fight off the fleshly desires that separate you from Him.<\/p>\n\n\n

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   New Year’s resolutions for Christians Should Lead to Spiritual Growth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

   My hope is that by asking ourselves these questions, we will begin to identify the areas that God wants us to focus on. I encourage you to pray to God about these things and see what He lays on your heart. God knows exactly where we need growth in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   The key is to land on a resolution that will foster spiritual growth. And what this world need going into the new year is serious Christians ready and willing to do God\u2019s work on this earth. Reading more Christian books in the new year is a good resolution. But not if it\u2019s just another task to check off your list and will not cultivate true growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   I\u2019ll end this post by sharing my own personal Christ-centered New Year\u2019s resolution:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   My 2021 Christ-centered New Year\u2019s resolution is to hear from God more consistently by increasing and deepening my prayer and worship life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Ultimately, whatever resolution we come up with should lead us closer to the Father. Let\u2019s go into the new year with a Christ-centered goal that will help us upgrade our spiritual lives and bring us even closer to the Father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   What is your Christ-centered New Year\u2019s resolution? Do you have more than one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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   What is your Christ-centered New Year\u2019s resolution? Do you know how to create a Christian New Year\u2019s resolution that will upgrade your spiritual life and propel your relationship with God? In this post, I will share 5 questions that can help with creating impactful New Year\u2019s resolutions for Christians. New Year\u2019s resolutions that will actually … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n