QUESTION: “Are New Year’s resolutions Biblical?” Paul allowed the glory of the Gospel to fully occupy his mind and impact every aspect of his life, and I pray you will, too. ANSWER: I’m not against New Year’s resolutions, especially when they are made under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in confidence in the Lord’s power to do great and new things in and through you for His glory. As a matter of fact, from the beginning Scripture has shown that God has set times, seasons, and festivals for the purpose of renewal because God is a renewing God. The New Testament makes it clear that we are to renew our minds constantly (see Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:16). How? By allowing the Holy Spirit to help us let go of past sin and guilt through genuine confession and repentance, by allowing the Holy Spirit of God, the very breath of God, to fill the sails of your life and be the power that pulls you through each day, week, month, and year. Here’s the problem: We can get caught in the quicksand of the past—past sorrow, failure, pain, anger, and even success—which can fill us with fear and anxiety rather than trust and peace in our faithful God. So, we must echo Paul in our every resolve: “[O]ne thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul allowed the glory of the Gospel to fully occupy his mind and impact every aspect of his life, and I pray you will, too.  

No matter how impossible your family situation may feel, it’s amazing what God can do when we invite Him into our family time, ask Him to give us opportunities to share the Gospel, and pray for Him to soften the hearts of our family members. In our prayers, we must remember that God “wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” and His desire to save the lost is far greater than ours (1 Timothy 2:4). We are not praying to a reluctant God, but a God who is eager to save and redeem. You may see the fruit of your prayers immediately, or you may never see the full impact of your intercession. As you prepare to see family this week, take some time to pray for them, and consider inviting your spouse or another Christian friend or family member to join you in prayer. There is great power when two or more gather in Christ’s name and pray for His will to be done (see Matthew 18:20). There are countless verses in the Bible through which you can pray for your family members by name. Here are a few to help guide you in your prayers: Father God, I know that “no one can come to [Jesus] unless the Father . . . draws them” (John 6:44). I ask that You draw _____________ to Your Son, that he/she may know You personally and spend eternity with You. Lord God, I ask that You move upon _____________’s heart to accept the Truth of Christ. “Give them a heart to know [You], that [You are] the Lord, [so that] they will be [Your] people, and [You] will be their God,” and may they “return to [You] with all their heart” (Jeremiah 24:7). Overwhelm _____________ with the reality of Your love for him/her, that he/she may “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18-19). Lord, use me to “open _____________’s eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [You]” (Acts 26:18). Holy Spirit, show me specifically how to minister to each member of my family—whether I should “be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; [or] show mercy, mixed with fear” (Jude 1:23). Reveal opportunities to share about You, and give me the strength to obey when You open the door. Father God, Your Word says that “godly sorrow brings repentance which leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Only You can open our eyes to the reality that all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. Come upon _____________ with a sense of godly sorrow for his/her sin, that he/she may repent, surrender to You, and be saved. As we pray, God readies our hearts to do His will, while also inviting us to rest in the fact that only He can change hearts. You may see the fruit of your prayers immediately, or you may never see the full impact of your intercession. Either way, don’t give up praying for your unsaved family members. Remember, we are engaged in a spiritual battle (see Ephesians 6:12-20), and one of our greatest weapons is prayer. God is in the business of doing the impossible, and He can change even the hardest of hearts.

It’s a new year. It feels fresh. It holds possibility. And with renewed energy, you are probably gearing up for practical change in your life. Maybe you’ve already made resolutions to better yourself and pursue impressive activities—exercise more, eat less, read more, learn a skill, volunteer. These are all good goals. But we must take care that by focusing on these practical, helpful, outward activities we don’t miss out on what is even better. "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). As we Christians seek to make godly resolutions this new year, we must contemplate what it really means to pursue godliness. Is it enough to make "Christian" goals, resolving to participate in a Bible study or read through the Bible in a year? No, even these endeavors can be limited in value. Even spiritual disciplines can be twisted by our sinful nature, tempting us to chase after our own praise and honor through righteous works rather than to pursue God because He is God. We must follow the example of Mary, who knew her deep need—the same need we all have—to sit in the presence of God, just as Jesus affirmed, ". . . few things are needed—or indeed only one" (Luke 10:42). At the end of the day, all of our concerns and longings for self-improvement are met in God in the best way: through self-forgetfulness as we dwell on the greatness of God. In contrast, our Western culture focuses on the self—self-help, self-care, self-improvement. It wants quick, practical answers that serve the self. And sadly, many churches cater to this self-centered view of the world, offering sermons with quick tips to turn your life, marriage, or kids around or books to get the best out of life—what you really deserve. While such promises may draw struggling people through the doors, they do nothing to bring eternal, life-giving transformation. That alone, from beginning to end, is the work of God. For, though Christianity is indeed practical, calling believers to serve, give, and love, all of these actions, if they are to have any lasting effect, must flow from one source: God in all His majesty. It is utterly impractical for us to try to improve ourselves in an eternally meaningful way apart from knowing the one who alone can do this work in us—the great I AM. Have you ever found yourself frustrated in church as your pastor delivers a sermon about the character of God when you just want some practical help? Perhaps you are happy to dive into the Word to find an answer to your present problem, but do you read Scripture to simply soak in the character of God—to study His matchless nature? It can be easy to forget that all the practical help we need for this life and the life to come emanates from a personal God who has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ—God made flesh (see John 1:14) There is nothing else in all the universe that can anchor you and give you hope like the unchanging God who is love. We must not neglect to study the perfections of God; they are life-giving because He is the source of life. As Oswald Chambers exhorted students at the Bible Training College in London: It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College—its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. . . . if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens. (My Utmost for His Highest) RETURNING TO THE ONE THING This year, let’s focus on knowing God instead of seeking how-to. And let’s not limit our experience of God to favorite passages of Scripture or thoughts about Him. Let’s feast on the inexhaustible glory of God and all His attributes—His self-existence, eternity, goodness, jealousy, love, sovereignty, omniscience, and more. Because, when we do, we are transformed from the inside out. Our pursuit of God through prayer and His Word naturally leaves us in awe of Him and develops a desire to live godly lives that glorify Him. At the end of the day, all of our concerns and longings for self-improvement are met in God in the best way: through self-forgetfulness as we dwell on the greatness of God. What might happen if churches simply invited people to come and know God, to be immersed in the wonder of who He is? What if we lived like the study of God and His character, perfections, and majesty were of supreme importance and relevance for life, immeasurably worthy of our time? What if God Himself became enough for us? We might witness a revival that the West desperately needs. For, true revival comes through a personal encounter with the incomprehensible God who has made Himself known. He alone is unchanging and sure in all the universe. His promises stand. His love is steadfast. His Word can be trusted. Because of who He is, you can be eternally rooted in Him, living out a peace and contentment that nothing else in all the world can provide. So, this year, let’s sit at the feet of Jesus and know God. Start your day with God’s Word. SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY DEVOTIONAL

How do we know if we are following Biblical wisdom? In chapter 3 of his epistle, James sets the standard with eight qualities of godly wisdom: First, godly wisdom is pure. False wisdom is characterized by bitter envy and selfish ambition; godly wisdom is characterized by purity of motive. Second, it is peace-loving. Selfish ambition can start a war, but God’s wisdom can bring Truth and clarity where there is chaos. Godly wisdom is the kind of wisdom that comes from the very heart of God. Third, it is considerate. You have strength and power, but you have them under control so that when you have the opportunity to hurt somebody, you won’t do it. Fourth, it is submissive. Being submissive means being willing to listen and willing to learn. To be submissive is to be humble and teachable, not a doormat to be walked over, but meek, so that your strength is guided and submitted to God, making you gentle and kind. Fifth, it is full of mercy. The word used here actually has a double meaning: forgiving those who wrong us and then being willing in our hearts to help them. Sixth, it is full of good fruit. You cannot manufacture the fruit of the Spirit. True spiritual maturity happens from the inside out for those who are indwelt by the Spirit of God and are seeking His wisdom moment by moment. Seventh, it is impartial. Those who live by worldly wisdom cannot be impartial because they are always trying to please someone, but those who live by God’s wisdom are consistent, single-minded, and authentic. Eighth, it’s sincere. A sincere person is genuine, without hypocrisy, and wears no mask. Godly wisdom is the kind of wisdom that comes from the very heart of God, who is all-wise. As you read and pray through the Word of God continually, you will find that your life is producing purity, peace, gentleness, willingness, mercy, good fruit, impartiality, and sincerity—and that’s how you’ll know the Word of God is taking root. Prayer: Lord, thank You for answering my prayers for wisdom by giving it to me generously. As I spend time studying Your Word and listening to Your voice, I know these things will begin to take root in me. Help me to prioritize that time with You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (James 3:17).

This morning, when you got out of bed, did you look in the mirror? You probably took a shower, got dressed, brushed your teeth, and ran a comb through your hair. In other words, you took a good hard look at your reflection in the mirror and then took steps to change your appearance for the better. In the mirror of God’s Word, we can see where we need to change—and we allow God to re-align our hearts with His.   The Lord’s brother James said the Word of God is like a mirror. When we read the Bible, it exposes what is really in our hearts—our sins, our shortcomings, the areas of life where we need to repent. It’s not always a pretty picture; most of us don’t want to confront our hypocrisy, our compromises, our complacency. But when we do, God is able to do His merciful, loving work of transformation in our hearts. The Bible is God’s gift to us. He wants us to look more and more like Jesus each day. When we look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word, we can see where we need to change—and we allow God to re-align our hearts with His. So today, when you pick up your Bible, look in the mirror—spiritually speaking—and allow your heavenly Father to show you how you can look more like His Son. Prayer: Jesus, I do long to be more like You, full of love, compassion, and kindness. May Your Word continue to transform me as Your Spirit renews my mind each day. Help me submit to Your will displayed in Scripture. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like" (James 1:23-24). Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon series Defending a Lion: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW

Did you know? An audio version of today’s devotional is available on Leading The Way‘s MY Devotional podcast!  Read Luke 15:8-10. In Luke 15:8-10, a woman loses one of her ten coins, but these weren’t just any coins. They were part of a semedi, a beautiful headdress a woman would be given by her betrothed. It represented their coming marriage; it was a symbol of their commitment to one another. To lose one of the ten coins set in that headdress was traumatic. It simply would not do to wear it with a coin missing. In the parable of the lost coin, Jesus shows us how personal His love is. In Jesus’ day, the houses in Israel were not very big, and they were also very dark. Most were tiny and did not have windows to let in natural light. The floor would have been dirt, which can crack, leaving lots of nooks for a coin to fall into. Is it any wonder, then, that the woman lit a lamp and swept the entire house, not stopping until she found her precious coin? If it were only an ordinary coin, she would have let it go. But this coin, of course, was more than a small circle of silver to her. It was personal. You see, when Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep, He demonstrated that His search for you is individualized. As the Good Shepherd, He carries you on His shoulders individually as if you were the only person on the face of the Earth. And in the parable of the lost coin, He shows us how personal His love is. You are not just a nameless face in the crowd; He focuses on you as if you were the only person in the whole universe. That’s what makes Him the Almighty God, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-loving God. But in this parable about the lost coin, note that the woman searches inside the house. Friend, there are those who attend church, who consider themselves part of the local Christian community, and yet they are still lost. They have never repented of their sin nor accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Is that you? Are you lost in God’s house? If so, I want you to know God’s love for you is more than words. It’s not merely a theory. And it’s not conditional, based on how well you’re behaving on a particular day. His love for you is constant and unrelenting; it’s active; it’s sacrificial. It cost Him everything, a Truth revealed in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. At the cross, Jesus endured the worst this world has to offer—all so that you might be found. Prayer: Lord, how beautiful Your love for sinners like me. I am awed at how special I am to You. Help me to live in the freedom that Your tremendous love brings, that I might be holy as You are holy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?" (Luke 15:8). Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Enduring Wisdom: WATCH NOW