New Year's Resolution-- Head--Heart--Hands--Health
Statistics say that only 9% of the people who make New Year’s Resolutions complete them. In fact, 23% who make resolutions quit before a week goes by, and 43% have quit before the end of January. The experts say there are four common reasons people fail at these resolutions.
As the new year arrives, might a needed resolution be: a routine to keep your faith active and thriving?
I’m not going to be too creative here, because what we all need is straightforward. If we are going to be Christ-followers, we need to surround ourselves with things that help us follow Christ, right?
Of first importance might be a regular study of God’s Word. Jesus said he is the bread of life (John 6:35), a basic staple to our spiritual diet. And he said it will be his words that judge us on the last day (John 12:48-49). So, if we are following Jesus, we must pay attention to his words. That doesn’t mean just the red-letter words of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It also means the instructions of his apostles as they write and speak in their letters. They are his authorized representatives once he returned to heaven (Matt. 28:18-20), and they speak with his authority. A daily habit of reading the Bible, picking a time that works well for your schedule, and submitting yourself to Sunday sermons and some form of group Bible study, will create a format to regularly be exposed to what Jesus taught. Being part of a group study helps with the accountability partner(s), and you can easily keep track weekly to see how many days you stuck with the plan to read the Bible, be at church to hear the sermon, and attend the study group. The creative part? How to reward yourself as you meet this goal.
I was in 4H as a boy. I recall the four H words to live a rounded life: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. Our method to stay in touch with God’s Word addresses the head. Being active in a small group, and taking part in corporate worship on Sundays, can address the heart, as we get encouraged by fellow followers and as we sing praises in worship. And these two things are already part of your routine if your goal is to hear a sermon weekly (last paragraph) and be in a Bible study small group (last paragraph). Done deal.
But true disciples need more than learning and fellowship, they need to obey and get their hands dirty in service. That includes character development, volunteering within the church, or a local benevolent endeavor. You are doing all this “in Jesus’ name” and for his glory. Vital, because in obedience and service we link our faith to real-life action providing meaning and purpose. This activates faith, and faith without works is dead, James tells us (2:26).
All said, all done, we have spiritual health, the 4th H. What 4H resolution do you need for the new year?
Cross Point: "Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). He accomplished his goal, dying there for your sins and mine! Make your discipleship resolution work for you in 2024, with measurable goals and a plan.
- The resolution is made as a tradition (like with the new year) instead of when an actual event causing a need occurs that helps maintain motivation (like when you eat too much and hit an out-of-bounds number that makes you truly desire to lose weight).
- You fail to anticipate obstacles with a plan to avoid them or overcome them if they occur.
- You fail to set measurable goals with milestones along the way, celebrating when they occur.
- You fail to enlist an accountability partner who will check in regularly, challenge you if you are slacking and encourage you if you are succeeding. You are twice as likely to succeed if you have an accountability partner who does their job.
As the new year arrives, might a needed resolution be: a routine to keep your faith active and thriving?
I’m not going to be too creative here, because what we all need is straightforward. If we are going to be Christ-followers, we need to surround ourselves with things that help us follow Christ, right?
Of first importance might be a regular study of God’s Word. Jesus said he is the bread of life (John 6:35), a basic staple to our spiritual diet. And he said it will be his words that judge us on the last day (John 12:48-49). So, if we are following Jesus, we must pay attention to his words. That doesn’t mean just the red-letter words of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It also means the instructions of his apostles as they write and speak in their letters. They are his authorized representatives once he returned to heaven (Matt. 28:18-20), and they speak with his authority. A daily habit of reading the Bible, picking a time that works well for your schedule, and submitting yourself to Sunday sermons and some form of group Bible study, will create a format to regularly be exposed to what Jesus taught. Being part of a group study helps with the accountability partner(s), and you can easily keep track weekly to see how many days you stuck with the plan to read the Bible, be at church to hear the sermon, and attend the study group. The creative part? How to reward yourself as you meet this goal.
I was in 4H as a boy. I recall the four H words to live a rounded life: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. Our method to stay in touch with God’s Word addresses the head. Being active in a small group, and taking part in corporate worship on Sundays, can address the heart, as we get encouraged by fellow followers and as we sing praises in worship. And these two things are already part of your routine if your goal is to hear a sermon weekly (last paragraph) and be in a Bible study small group (last paragraph). Done deal.
But true disciples need more than learning and fellowship, they need to obey and get their hands dirty in service. That includes character development, volunteering within the church, or a local benevolent endeavor. You are doing all this “in Jesus’ name” and for his glory. Vital, because in obedience and service we link our faith to real-life action providing meaning and purpose. This activates faith, and faith without works is dead, James tells us (2:26).
All said, all done, we have spiritual health, the 4th H. What 4H resolution do you need for the new year?
Cross Point: "Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). He accomplished his goal, dying there for your sins and mine! Make your discipleship resolution work for you in 2024, with measurable goals and a plan.