A new year has begun.  I always believe a new year represents a new beginning. It’s a marvelous time to make some changes.  As you reflect on last year, you have already probably come up with a list of New Year’s resolutions for the year.  It might include exercising, a new diet, a Bible reading plan and a plan to have consistent devotions with God.

Those are all great.  However, when this year comes to an end, you want to know that you’ve grown in some other areas as well. 

Here are 14 epic New Year’s resolutions for a better you for this new year:

1) Set aside “think” time.

My husband finds it strange that I can just sit and stare.  I’m usually doing some serious thinking and I love it!

Here are some reasons to have regular “think” times:

• Gain clarity on issues; 
• Solve a problem:
• Meditate on God’s Word and determine how it should be applied to your life.
• Help you to be still and know that He is God.
• Listen to God;
• Allow God to get your attention; and 
• Provide room to design your future plans for any area of your life.

2) Forgive yourself and others.

When you look back at last year, you might have made some poor decisions that now make you cringe with regret.  You said words that should have never left your mouth.  Perhaps, you’ve hurt others or even yourself by your inability to break an addiction.  With a new year before you, it’s time to forgive yourself.

Additionally, are you holding onto hurt? Is there someone that you need to forgive? Refusing to forgive someone will do more harm to you and your fellowship with God than to the other person(s).  If you’re having difficulty, ask the Holy Spirit to help You.  He’s always willing.

3) Choose true repentance.

Forgiveness and repentance go hand in hand.  If you are truly sorry for an action, then you need to make changes to have a different outcome the next time a similar situation arises.  You cannot keep thinking the same way, making the same decisions and hope for a different outcome. True repentance involves a change in attitude which would then cause a change in action. 

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV

4) See a Christian counselor.

Whether you think you need one right now or not, it’s good to have at least one appointment yearly with a biblically-grounded counselor.  Most of us are not aware of the destructive effects of disappointments, careless words, fears, trauma and the like have on our souls.  As such, it is important to see a professional counselor who can bring light to the dark hidden areas of our lives.  

I saw one last year and it was great.  To be honest, before my appointment, I thought… “what will I talk about with her?”  Then the Lord brought to my mind a fear that was plaguing me for months! I’m so grateful that she helped me gain clarity and freedom from that fear.  From then on, I decided that seeing her would be an annual tradition.

5) Write a short journal entry every day.

I cannot discount how emotionally healthy this practice is.  If you’re an emotional mess, than you need to start journal. If you don’t want to end up in an emotional wreck, then start journaling to prevent it.

Related article:

10 Easy Tips to Start Journaling today

6) Start an emergency fund.

As a single woman, you may not have anyone to rely on financially (except Jesus) when an emergency arises.  About two years ago, I realized that I had no emergency fund.  

I thought it was a worthwhile goal, so I made sacrifices and implemented measures to build an emergency fund for myself.  Within a few months, I had reached my goal. 

Make a plan to store up an emergency fund for a rainy day.  You can initially save for your total monthly expenses for three months and when that target is achieved, you can aim for six months of expenses.  Check out www.daveramsey.com for tips.

7) Plan a weekly social media and smartphone fast.

You may not realize that you are a social media or smartphone addict until there is no internet; your devices are unavailable to you; or you decide to do a fast.  As a Christian, you should not allow anything or anyone else to control you …even if it seems harmless.  Believe me, it’s very freeing!

In order to give social media and your devices their proper subservient position in your life, you need to be intentional or they will overtake your life. 

Tips for social media/smartphone boundaries:

• Choose a day when you will not use your phone for a specified time (like 6am-6pm). I like Sundays for that.
• Only check your emails/messages/comments (and the list goes on) every … hour(s).
• Remove all notifications so that you will not be tempted to look and respond.

The more you do it, the easier it gets.  

8) Ask God for the opportunity to share the gospel with others.

When your favorite store is having a sale, it’s natural to tell others.  If something incredible happens to you, you’ll be bursting to share it with others.  This is natural because it completes your cycle of joy. 

In the same way, as a follower of Jesus whose life has been transformed by His power, your joy will be made complete when you share Him with others.  It’s not that you are trying to earn His favour, but it will add a dimension of joy to your life that you may not have been experiencing before.

9) Disciple other women.

I have disciplined over one hundred women and without a doubt, the young ladies who have grown the most were the ones who helped others grow.  If you want to grow in your relationship with God, help others to grow also. Please note that discipleship is not equivalent to mentorship or coaching. 

Discipleship involves teaching others what you have learnt while sharing your life with them in an authentic way.  It involves being transparent and vulnerable with others so that they can also grow.

As one of my disciplers said to me, “if you keep on taking in and not give back to others, you will become spiritually constipated.”

“…In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35 NIV

Check out helpful resources at www.cru.org and www.navigators.org.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

10) Evaluate your key relationships and have a plan to invest in them.

At the end of most people’s lives, there is one common thread. They often wish that they had spent more time with loved ones.  While you possibly have more years ahead of you, take their advice and see what you can do in this new year to have better relationships with your loved ones.

Tips:

• Schedule dates with your parents (or guardians), siblings, nephews, nieces, etc.
• Write little notes throughout the year expressing gratitude, what you admire, a special memory, etc. to important people in your life.
• Make yourself available to celebrate key events in their lives.
• Attend family gatherings.
• Choose a few older relatives that you’ll visit this year.

11) Seek help to break an addictive habit.

Be determined that you’ll be free this year from whatever habit that has kept you as a slave.  The main thing that often keeps people bond to addiction is secrecy. Think about a trustworthy friend and confide in that person.  I would suggest another female.  

Ask her to pray and hold you accountable.  Together, you can research, chart a course of freedom and enroll third party help like Covenant Eyes.  Freedom is totally worth the courage it will take to be transparent with someone else.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV

Related articles:

How to Beat Porn Addiction and Other Sexually Addictive Behaviors | 10 Practical Tips

12) Surrender your life completely to God.

It’s really interesting that so many Christians are sincerely afraid of God’s will for their lives.  If you surrender the area of romantic relationships to God, you think that God will choose the most ugly boring man for your spouse.  If you surrender your career to God, He’ll send you to the most desolate regions of the world where you would be on the brink of starvation.  

From where does every good and perfect gift comes? It comes from God (James 1:17).  Who created all that is this universe with such intricacy, beauty and intelligence? God did (Genesis 1:1)! Who gives us all good things to enjoy? God does (1 Timothy 6:17).

The enemy has deceived us into thinking that God is not good and that He’s a killjoy.  Nothing could be further from the truth. A life of surrender will cause you to live your best life now.  Anything but a surrendered life means that you’re leading your own life. The leading of a fallen human being (you) cannot measure up to the leading of the  Almighty God. 

It’s time to experience true freedom and adventure by surrendering completely to Him.

13) End any unhealthy romantic relationships. 

You’ve wasted enough time on him.  Time to end it and move on. Whether it’s a boyfriend, live-partner, or situationship, make a clean break in this coming year.  It’ll be hard at first, but it will get easier.  God has much better in store for you.  

Related articles:

6 Guys to Resist

Are you in an Unhealthy Relationship? 8 Signs

“Situationship” or Relationship … 5 Reasons It Should be Clear

14) Take a weekly sabbath.

Once a week, take time to take it easy and rest.  If God rested, you can rest too. While you’re resting, He can take care of things.

Summary

New Year’s resolutions are not meant to control you but help you to make necessary changes in your life.  It’s an opportunity for a fresh beginning. One year, I resolved to read 24 books. When I accomplished it, I grew because I read books that changed me.  All that reading has probably impacted this blog. 

Here are the 14 epic New Year’s resolutions for a better you this year:

1. Set aside “think” time.
2. Forgive yourself and others.
3. Choose true repentance.
4. See a Christian counselor.
5. Write a short journal entry every day.
6. Start an emergency fund.
7. Plan a weekly social media and smartphone fast.
8. Ask God for the opportunity to share the gospel with others.
9. Disciple other women.
10. Evaluate your key relationships and have a plan to invest in them.
11. Seek help to break an addictive habit.
12. Surrender your life completely to God.
13. End any unhealthy romantic relationships. 
14. Take a weekly sabbath.

What are your New Year’s resolutions for this year?  What changes or developmental goals do you have this year? Please share by commenting below.

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With love,

Kimberly 

Recommended books:

“Disciplines of The Beautiful Woman” by Anne Ortlund

“The Master Plan of Evangelism” by Robert E. Coleman

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