More Than New Years Resolutions: Christian Goals for Spiritual Growth in the New Year
I hate New Years Resolutions, primarily because I have yet to ever keep one. Ever. Now, I haven’t made many of them over the years knowing my commitment struggles, but I find myself like many of you. By the time February or March rolls around, off the bandwagon I go. But you’re probably here reading this now because you’re contemplating what a good resolution for yourself might be.
Lose weight. Save money. Work less. As the New Year is upon us, many of us set resolutions to improve various areas of life, from fitness to finances. But how often have you considered making spiritual growth a priority in your New Year’s resolutions? For Christians, setting purposeful goals rooted in discipleship and faith is essential to a fulfilling walk with God. Unfortunately, not many Believers make spiritual growth a purposeful endeavor.
Did you note my slight change of language there? I didn’t use the New Years Resolution terminology. I called them ‘purposeful goals.’ Our spiritual growth, our Christian discipleship shouldn’t be a seasonal thing, but it also shouldn’t be a forgotten about endeavor.
Why Set Christian Goals for the New Year?
Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident. Like our physical health, our relationships, and our financial status, without intentionality, our faith can stagnate. Mentally most of us understand the importance of being intentional and purposeful with the things that are important to us. Spiritually, the Bible encourages us to commit our efforts to God and plan for growth:
Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Luke 14:28-30: Jesus emphasizes the importance of planning, saying, “Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27: The Apostle Paul compares the Christian life to a race, urging us to “run in such a way as to get the prize.”
Just as athletes train diligently for their goals, Christians must approach discipleship with focus and determination. Intentional spiritual goals help us stay on course and deepen our relationship with Christ.
Pause from ‘reading mode’ to contemplate mode’ for a minute. Seriously.
Pause.
Stop and contemplate these questions for a minute:
· Who do you want to be in 12 months?
· Spiritually speaking, how do you want your family to view you?
· What do you want your relationship with God to look like?
· What type of growth do you want to experience spiritually in the next year?
Deeply think about those questions. Meditate on them. If you need to come back to this post in a few hours, or days, that’s ok. But do not ‘not’ think about them.
The Value of Discipline in Spiritual Growth
Remember the story of Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson in the 1988 Olympics? Johnson relied on shortcuts, using performance-enhancing drugs, while Lewis committed to disciplined, ethical preparation. Though Johnson initially appeared victorious, his shortcuts led to disqualification. In contrast, Lewis’s dedication earned him the gold medal.
This serves as a powerful analogy for our spiritual lives. Quick fixes may seem appealing, but true discipleship and spiritual growth require diligence, integrity, and reliance on God.
As you answered the questions above, those are a start for navigating your own personal spiritual goals. Let’s flesh this out a little more. How do you even begin setting meaningful, realistic goals for spiritual growth and maturity from a Christian perspective?
How to Set Spiritual Goals for the New Year
1. Begin with God Start by seeking God in prayer. Seriously. How many of us go through these processes of planning our futures without even spending adequate time talking to God and then listening for His input and guidance? Before we put pen to paper in regards to planning where we want to be in our faith, go to God.
Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” Pray. Read Scripture. Connect. Listen for God’s stirring and direction. Be careful to align your goals with what Scripture has already told us is God’s will, ensuring they reflect His priorities for your life.
Setting a goal to memorize more Scripture, we know, is God’s will through various verses in the Bible. Psalm 119:11, Joshua 1:8, Colossians 3:16, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, and so many more communicate the value of memorizing God’s Word. So setting a goal of memorizing 25 verse in the next year aligns with God’s Will, we know.
Setting a goal to start a Christian band might be a little more difficult to Scripturally validate. It’s not a ‘bad’ goal, and it might even be something that the Holy Spirit is nudging you towards, but there isn’t ample Biblical guidance there. Be careful that your goal setting is done with the goal of putting yourself in a place of obedience and submission, and not just something you’d like to achieve personally.
2. Reflect on Your Spiritual Journey Take time to evaluate where you are in your faith. Are you regularly reading Scripture? How’s your prayer life? Are you serving others? Honest reflection will help you identify areas for growth.
Be truthful with yourself. Having a true starting point also helps you to set reasonable goals. Having 100 Bible verses memorized by December 31st would be must easier for someone who already has 50 memorized, and has a system for memorization in place. If you haven’t intentionally memorized anything in years, and you know your Bible reading has been lacking, that’s going to be quite the obstacle.
3. Set SMART Goals Like the builder in Luke 14:28-30, plan with intentionality. Set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example:
Read the Bible in a year.
Dedicate 10 minutes daily to prayer.
Join a small group or Bible study.
Serve in a ministry or community outreach.
Memorize one Scripture verse each week.
There are LOTS of articles and YouTube videos on the subject of SMART goals, so look them up if you’re having a hard time figuring out what that might look like. But write your goals down and revisit them regularly. When you see the practical goal you’ve set for yourself regularly, it helps you to commit to the next step.
4. Commit to the Process Spiritual growth takes time and effort. Philippians 3:13-14 reminds us to “forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.” Growth may not always be linear, and setbacks are part of the journey. Mentally prepare for them now. Plan how you will react when things do not go the way you hoped. Here’s how you can stay committed:
Establish a Routine: Create a consistent schedule for spiritual practices like prayer, Bible reading, and worship. For instance, set aside 15 minutes each morning for quiet time with God. To achieve your goal, be intentional about working on it at a set time, for a set time.
Embrace Small Steps: Recognize that progress often comes in small, incremental steps. Celebrate these and don’t be discouraged by what feels like slow progress.
Lean on God’s Strength: Pray for perseverance and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you. This whole ‘vine and branches’ thing is pretty important. Remember, your strength comes from Him. If your goal is in line with God’s will then we know His Spirit longs to help you achieve it.
Use Tools and Resources: Invest in devotionals, Bible apps, or guided studies to stay focused and motivated. You do not have to try to navigate it alone. We live in a world full of resources. Research and see what tools, tips, and tricks might be available to assist.
Overcome Discouragement: When challenges arise, turn to Scripture for encouragement and reminders of God’s faithfulness. Surround yourself with supportive community to uplift you in difficult times. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection but faithfulness in pursuing Christ.
5. Build Accountability Speaking of surrounding yourself with a supportive community, share your goals with a trusted friend or mentor. Fellowship and accountability help you stay focused and encouraged. You do not have to be a lone wolf, and in fact, when we know others know our goals, we are more internally motivated. Whether we fear being embarrassed by not meeting the goal, whether we do not want to let anyone down, or whatever the motivation, people achieve their goals at a higher rate when they share them with others. Christians are also commanded to love and encourage one another, so when you are a part of a life-giving community of Believers, they push us along and cheer us on.
The Boat Illustration
Imagine a boat on the open waters of the sea. Carrying a load of important cargo, it needs to reach port in 2 days. How does it get there? Without intentional direction, it drifts aimlessly, carried by currents and winds. How likely is it to accidentally get to its destination? But with purposeful steering, it moves toward its destination. It needs power and to be guided. Similarly, without clear spiritual goals, our faith can waver. Spiritually we wander along, tossed by the seas of life, carried by whatever current we find ourselves in. By setting goals and steering our Christian lives with purpose, we stay on course toward spiritual growth and maturity.
A Call to Discipleship in the New Year
This New Year, take responsibility for your spiritual growth. Commit your plans to God, set purposeful goals, and trust Him to lead you. Ask yourself:
How can I grow closer to God this year?
What specific steps will I take to strengthen my discipleship?
What areas of my spiritual life need improvement?
Write down your New Year’s resolutions for spiritual growth, pray over them, and pursue them with intention. Remember, the journey of discipleship is worth the effort. As you take these steps, remember the words of Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Trust in His guidance and embrace the journey of spiritual growth with purpose and joy. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 9:25, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”