Intentional Christian Living in the New Year

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise… Ephesians 5:15

Dear Friends in Christ,

Happy New Year! I pray that you will grow in God’s grace and in the knowledge and love of the Lord and in the fellowship of God’s people. We all know the cliché about New Year’s resolutions and how they often burn out in the face of our personal inertia. What training in mind, body and spirit needs is focused intention and actions that back up those intentions. As Christians, we also need each other—our relationships together are an essential part of what it means to be Christians. And together, we can live more intentionally integrated Christian lives.

Where will you grow in your walk with Jesus this year? What part of your life has felt absent of God and God’s grace? What steps will you take to seek and find God’s presence there? How will you say yes to Jesus and no to the things that push God away?

To be practical about it, how about these questions:

WHO? Who will be your mentor along the way? Who will be your companions on this journey? Who will you help grow closer to God?

HOW? What habits of prayer, study and service will you practice to support the growth to which God calls you?

WHEN & WHERE? Plan specific dates and times for these practices and habits. Take stock of the challenges and plan strategies to strengthen your plan.

WHY? Always keep God’s love for you and your love for God at the center of these practices so that they maintain their purpose and foundation.

YAY! Well, that’s not a question, but always remember to come worship God together and to celebrate what God is doing in and through you—to bless you and to bless others.

Happy New Year!!

Yours in Christ,

-Tom