What New Years Resolution Should you make?

About the Podcast 

Pastor Brian and Savannah discuss the appropriateness and motivations behind New Year's resolutions for Christians, emphasizing spiritual growth and alignment with God's will.

Key Takeaways 

• (00:00) Pastor Brian believes making New Year's resolutions is acceptable if they are made for the right reasons, such as honoring God and maintaining health, rather than self-glorification.
• (01:05) The key verse for the episode is 2 Corinthians 13:5, which encourages self-examination to ensure one is in the faith and to test one's relationship with Christ.
• (02:11) Pastor Brian emphasizes the importance of reflecting on personal growth in faith over the past year, acknowledging human imperfection while encouraging continual sanctification.
• (06:10) Resolutions should focus on spiritual growth, such as committing to pray more, read the Bible, or attend church regularly, and should come from a sincere desire to deepen one's relationship with God.
• (07:13) Christians should seek God's wisdom in determining which resolutions to pursue, recognizing that some goals may take longer than a year to achieve.
• (08:01) Spiritual growth is a continuous process, and some resolutions may remain the same year after year as believers strive to refine themselves.
• (08:35) Memorizing scripture is an example of a long-term resolution that serves to strengthen one's faith and resist temptation, reinforcing the idea that spiritual goals are ongoing.
• (08:47) The speaker reflects on their scripture memorization from the previous year, questioning the motivation behind it and emphasizing the importance of hiding God's word in their heart to resist temptation.
• (10:23) Resolutions should align with God's will and avoid leading to temptation, using the example of weight loss goals.
• (12:42) Spiritual goals should be viewed as daily commitments rather than annual resolutions, emphasizing the importance of living in the present.
• (14:26) Accountability within the church community is important, as it can help individuals stay on track with their spiritual goals.
• (15:20) The need to rely on God for strength and support, especially during challenging times, and the importance of repentance is emphasized.
• (17:40) The primary goal for the upcoming year should be to deepen one's relationship with God rather than merely setting resolutions.
• (17:48) Actionable steps to achieve spiritual growth include increasing prayer and Bible reading, and having accountability partners to help maintain these commitments.
• (20:27) Societal messages often promote independence, but true strength comes from reliance on Jesus and His sacrifice.
• (22:00) God often places people in our lives to provide encouragement and support, reinforcing the idea of community in faith.
• (23:15) When achieving spiritual goals, humility is emphasized over pride, acknowledging that any success is due to God's help.
• (24:40) Self-examination regarding motivations behind actions and resolutions is necessary, as misaligned goals may lead to failure.
• (26:03) Psalm 37 is quoted to emphasize trust in the Lord and the importance of delighting in Him to receive the desires of one's heart, reinforcing the idea of building a relationship with God.
• (27:15) While God promises to fulfill the desires of our hearts, it may not happen immediately. Commitment to the Lord and trust in His timing are necessary.
• (29:06) For the upcoming year, setting a primary goal of growing closer to God is suggested, with specific resolutions such as praying more, reading the Bible, and engaging with the church community.
• (34:27) Salvation comes through repentance and faith in Christ alone, and listeners are encouraged to seek a personal relationship with Jesus.