A New Year, A New You!

I want to continue this Sunday sharing with you another New Year’s sermon. It seems the popular phrase today for New Year’s is “A New Year, a New You!” So that’s the topic I want to preach about this morning, “A New Year, a New You!”

Think about it! If 365 days from now you could celebrate some significant changes in your life that you could confidently say, “I’m a new person!” Or even, “I’m a better person….a happier person….a more confident person…..a spiritually stronger person.” Wouldn’t that be a great accomplishment for most of us?

Many people have giving up trying to improve their lives. They say things like, “I just don’t try anymore. I change somethings for a short while but then just go back to the same ole me!”

I read recently that out of 100 people who attempt to set a New Year’s Resolution, only 8 people will actually achieve their goal. Most people can’t even remember their New Year’s Resolutions after six months into the year!

But the reason most people fail is because change is hard. And most of us will fail to reach all our resolutions or goals we set for ourselves each New Year. Another reason we fail is because we attempt to do it alone.

I’m not talking about simply having an accountability partner. I’m talking about including God in our changes we want to make.

The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13, NKJV

And Ephesians 5:15-17 reminds us to “Walk carefully, not as the unwise, but as wise, making the very most of your time . . . Do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17 AMP)

This morning I want to encourage you to not give up but to set out in faith and set some goals for a better you. Maybe you want to be healthier? More rested and less stressed? Do you want to be closer to God and other people?

Let’s begin this morning by asking what are goals and why are they so important? There are two definitions that turn ordinary goals into spiritual goals.

First, 1. A goal is a statement of faith. 2. A goal is something I believe God can do through me.

Goals help us achieve or reach the things we believe are important in life. Another phrase we hear a lot today, especially in the world of sports is, “I want to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be.”

The goals I am going to share with you today can help you be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be. And the reason you can be your best you, you can be is because Jesus is in you. Do I need to say that again?

We were created to become like Jesus Christ, so let’s use him as a model for growth. The Bible tells us that Jesus grew in four ways: “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52 NIV)

If you want to be like Jesus, then you have to grow intellectually, physically, relationally, and spiritually. As I share these points this morning, I want you to be thinking of one goal you can set for yourself in each of these four areas.

1. SET A GOAL FOR INTELLECTUAL GROWTH

Proverbs 19:8 says, “Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper” (GNT).

You must never stop learning. Someone said, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste!”

What is one thing you’d like to learn? It doesn’t have to be a spiritual thing. Maybe there’s a book you’d like to read for the first time. Maybe there’s a class you’d like to take. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn another language. Now is the time to do it!

I have a trilogy of books in my office by Dr. Lehman Strauss, a brilliant Bible Theologian who died in 1997. This is a set of doctrinal books about the Triune Nature of God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. My set is the fourth printing dating to March of 1976. I’ve had these books so long that one of my children decided to autograph volume 1 with a blue crayon. I’ve had this set of Lehman Strauss books for a very long time but have never read them through cover to cover.

My intellectual goal for 2023 is to read these books! And with God’s help, I will read them and enjoy reading them and learn much from them.

2. SET A GOAL FOR PHYSICAL GROWTH

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (NLT).

God wants you to honor him with your body, because it’s where he lives. What could you do to set a goal in this area? How can you improve your health? Don’t make an unrealistic goal, because you will just get discouraged. You might need to get a physical, go to bed earlier, change an eating habit, or start a walking or biking plan.

I have a friend who posted his plan to start the New Year with a 5-mile walk. That’s a challenging physical goal. Walking 5 miles daily may be way over the top for you, but my friend is an NFL official. He’s already in good physical condition.

If you can’t exercise for an hour each day, try 30 minutes or even 15. Setting a goal to do something is far superior to not setting any goal.

1 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV) For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

3. SET A GOAL FOR RELATIONAL GROWTH

Philippians 1:9 says, “This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love” (NCV).

The greatest lesson you can learn in life is how to love God and other people. Because that’s what life is all about! What do you need to do to develop stronger relationships? Restore a relationship? Offer forgiveness or ask for forgiveness? Invite a new friend over for a meal? Remember to make your goal specific.

4. SET A GOAL FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:18, “Grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (TLB).

I’ve found in my life that the smallest goal I set in this area reaps the most incredible benefits. As you think through this one, ask, “What can I do that will make the biggest difference?” Even a small thing can make a huge difference. Or what have you been putting off when it comes to spiritual growth? Do that one first when it comes to this goal.

· Are you following a bible reading plan? Do you need to start? When’s the last time you committed to memory a verse of Scripture? Do you remember it?

· How’s your prayer life? Do you follow a prayer guide? What about a daily devotional reading?

· Are you regular in your church attendance? What about your giving to the church? Are you a tither? If not, why not resolve to begin to give something every Sunday. Just $10 a week could pay for a portion of the church’s monthly utility bill or almost the entire cost of six months of Sunday School curriculum.

Make it a point to write down your goals and put them on your refrigerator or your mirror. Look at them every day. Pray about them. Review them. Share them with a spiritual partner. Use these goals to help you know Jesus better and grow more into his image

“Walk carefully, not as the unwise, but as wise, making the very most of your time . . . Do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17 AMP)

If you haven’t already done so, take some time today to sit down and write out at least one goal in each of these four areas. Make sure they are FAITH goals: focused, attainable, individual, trackable, and heartfelt.

Another important tip to reaching your goals in 2023 is a loving, accountability partner. Who can encourage you and hold you accountable as you work toward your goals? Give them permission to ask you how you are doing with your goals from time to time.

Whatever your goals may be for 2023, I pray they help you become more like Jesus and to grow intellectually, physically, relationally and spiritually.

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