At the beginning of every new year people are always looking for ways to improve things from last year. Google has a list of top priorities of new resolutions. They range from being healthier to time on social media. When looking at possible New Year’s resolutions from different sites, I couldn’t find anything about spiritual improvements.
So, I want to encourage you today. Don’t submit to an idea of resolutions but rather submit to a new or improved spiritual walk. How does that even look? Try to prioritize a little alone time with God, both praying and reading His Word. Did you know that when you open the Word of God, you are having an encounter with The Living God?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
Feast on that for a minute. The Living God. The One who was and is and is to come. The Creator. The Savior. The King. The One who knows you inside and out. The One who sustains you. The One who will never leave you. The One who loves you more than any other. The God of Hope. Oh, the list could go on.
This God wants to have a relationship with you. It is so easy to take our relationship with God for granted. We call on Him when we need Him. However, God desires to have constant fellowship with us.
Some of you may be satisfied with your relationship with God. I know I am personally never satisfied. I long to talk with my Savior and commune with Him. To me, the highest honor is to know that God wants to hear from me. He wants to commune with me. And, He wants to have fellowship with you. The more time you spend with Him, the more time you will want to spend with Him. It will make you thirst for more.
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God. Psalm 42:1-2
As the New Year is here, consider taking a step toward the God who loves you. Don’t worry about a resolution, instead, invest in your spiritual health. Oftentimes we fail when we make a resolution and then it seems hard to recover or start fresh. However, when we are attempting to prioritize God, even when we fail, He is there to help us start over. We never have to feel as though we can’t begin anew. The return on your investment will have everlasting benefits.
Tips for an easy start: Grab your Bible, a journal and a good devotional book. One of the best books to start reading is John. A devotional book will point you to scripture with life application. Use a journal to write your thoughts, prayers and praises. Sometimes it’s easier to write your prayers out.
Fun Fact: My Bible is marked up with notes from study, sermons, and things God has used to get my attention. Don’t be afraid to mark your Bible up. It’s always a great reminder of growth.