It’s a New Year, and with it comes resolutions and promises that the upcoming year would be better than the last. From fitness and dietary goals to aspirations of honing one’s hobbies and skills, such resolutions are exciting to plan. But predictably, we fail to accomplish them within the first three or four months. According to Drive Research, 46% of adults stick with their New Year’s resolution after 6 months. This seems discouraging, but when a partner is included, such goals are attainable by 90%. What is your New Year’s Resolution? While it is good to reflect on where we could improve in areas of finance, health, and relationships, the believer also ought to reflect on the number one relationship in their life – Christ! Desiring a deeper walk with Christ may not seem like an immediate investment as we have our whole lives to grow with Him. Even Paul says in Philippians 3:12:
“Not that I have already attained…but I press on , that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
Isn’t that so encouraging?
Even Paul concedes areas of growth in his walk with Christ. But our walk with Christ reaps a harvest of spiritual blessings that can be enjoyed in the present considering its life-long pursuit. From peace in our souls to losing viceful temptations, investing in our walk with Christ today can only reap reward.
Alongside a fruitful prayer life, disciplined biblical devotions are crucial to the well-being of our souls. Psalm 119:11 reads:
“Your Word, have I hid in my heart so that I may not sin against You.”
Approaching daily Bible reading requires the same discipline that we apply to other resolutions, but the only difference is that the Holy Spirit desires to personally mentor us in this endeavor (John 14:26). The Bible is rather a large book so where do we start? If you are new to Bible reading, especially when it comes to daily devotions, starting with the Psalm and Proverbs of the day is helpful. For example: if it is the second day of the month, read Psalm 2 and Proverbs 2. If it’s the third day of the month, read Psalm 3 and Proverbs 3, and so on. Once daily devotions become a habit, you can then browse a list of plans to take your Bible reading to the next level. I suggest the One Year Bible reading plan that I am currently going through with my own church in 2024.
Therefore, just as diet and exercise are fundamentals to a healthy and happy life, so are prayer and daily Bible reading to a thriving spiritual life. We do not have to pursue this alone. We can bring in a trusted friend to join us in this journey in addition to having the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, as our guide and teacher.
Josiah Daniel Solis is a filmmaker, writer, musician, and Star Wars nerd living in Southern California. After spending years in ministry, graduating from the School of Cinema and Media Arts at Biola University, and directing an award-winning film, Josiah desires to convey the truth of Christ’s redemptive work through cinematic storytelling and robust theological writing.
