“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” – 1 Cor 9:24-25
New Year could be the perfect time (though any day is great) to commit yourself to pursuing disciplines and habits that will help you run the race and win the prize. These could include:
1. Plan to get into God’s word
It could be a devotional, reading the bible in a year, listening to a sermon, dwelling on a verse. Be creative! (Colossians 3:16)
2. Pray daily
Set time aside for prayer, be structured in praying for people and issues in the world by using prayer lists, start a prayer journal, find a place to go each day to pray. (Phil 4:6)
3. Work on your problem areas
Pray that God will reveal the sin in your life to work on this year. Acknowledge, confess and repent of this sin. Find someone to be accountable to and meet and pray with them.
4. Develop a positive habit
There may be other areas in your life that you may feel you should be working on. These may include eating better, sleeping better, exercising more, getting more organized etc. Remember we are physical beings as well as spiritual. We need to be working on both to be functional!
Don’t rely just on willpower
The world is pretty cynical about New Year’s resolutions. According to research you are most likely to revert to old behaviours between 5-7 times before changing your ways (see here) and it takes at least 66 days to develop a new habit. It is little wonder than that most resolutions don’t see it past January. But thankfully, as Christians we have a greater power at work in us that can enable us to see things through. The Spirit of God works within us conforming us to the image of Christ. If He is for us – who can be against us? And what is better – we know there is forgiveness and grace when we do slip up.