At the start of a new year, it’s common for people to make resolutions. At this and all times of the year, the Bible teaches certain things we should each resolve to do that are of great significance. Consider a few “resolutions” we can make at any time during our lives on earth that are in line with what God commands of us in His Word:
Put First Things First: One thing we should always determine to do is to “put first things first” in life. Notice what Ecclesiastes 12:13 says in relation to this: This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
There is nothing more significant in our lives than submitting to what God commands of us. One who is not a Christian should thus resolve to get “into Christ” as God commands, through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism
(Gal. 3:27; cf. Acts 2:38 and 8:36-38).
Those who are New Testament Christians should determine to prioritize rightly. Recognizing that we belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20), we should resolve to let Him direct us as He pleases.
Pray Fervently: A specific way God wants His children to obey Him is through fervent prayer. The inspired apostle Paul commands, “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). If we do this, we are told, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus” (verse 7).
God not only allows us to go to Him in prayer with problems we face…He wants us to do this. Notice 1 Peter 5:7: casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He careth for you.
Prayer is an expression of our dependence on, and faith in, God. When it is done properly, it has tremendous power (James 5:16).
We should recognize the value of prayer, have gratitude that leads us to thank God through prayer (1 Thess. 5:18), and earnestly cast our cares on God while asking for His help in our own lives and the lives of others (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
Study Diligently: We should also determine to diligently study God’s Word. In 1 Peter 2:2, the Holy Spirit through Peter commands Christians, “as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.” We should determine to be like the noble Bereans described in Acts 17:11 who “received the Word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” The Bereans’ behavior emphasizes not only a hunger and thirst for the Word, but also a thoughtful consideration of things taught as doctrine, with a sincere desire to know if such things are from God.
We should all have a longing to know the truth, and to apply that knowledge as needed in our lives (James 1:22).
Build Character: Another specific way God desires His children to serve Him is by developing the character He desires. At all times throughout the year, we should strive to be growing in character to better please God.
Consider, for instance, God’s command to “put on…a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering” (Col. 3:12). We are also commanded “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Pet. 1:5-7). It is evident that God expects us to grow in character. Determining to follow these and other instructions from God’s Word will be profitable not just for a year, but for eternity. May we be resolved to please God by obeying what He commands us.
– Michael Hickox