{"id":34383,"date":"2025-12-17T09:31:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T14:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=34383"},"modified":"2025-12-31T09:38:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T14:38:54","slug":"new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/new-year.htm","title":{"rendered":"Resolutions or Prayer for the New Year?"},"content":{"rendered":"

People often make resolutions at the end of a year for the upcoming new year<\/a>. God does want us to examine our lives (Ps. 139:23). He also wants us to grow (2 Pet. 3:18) and become more effective and productive (2 Pet. 1:3-8).<\/span> We must ask, however, if resolutions are the way to seek improvement. What about prayer?<\/p>\n

The Path to Growth and Effectiveness In the New Year Takes Prayer<\/h2>\n

For followers of Jesus Christ, how we get somewhere matters. New Year resolutions tend to fall short.<\/p>\n

1) Resolutions tend to grow out of self-assessment rather than asking God to examine our lives. (Ps. 139:23-24; Prov. 3:5-6)<\/span><\/p>\n

2) We tend to pursue resolutions with self-determination and self-effort rather than trusting God to work in and through us. (Jn. 15:5; Phil. 4:13)<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask God to Search Your Heart to Reveal Where Change is Needed<\/h2>\n

As you look back over the past year, you might pray similar to the psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” (Ps. 139:23) Then ask Him to show you what He might want you to do differently in the upcoming year. — “See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:24)<\/p>\n

\"Pray<\/p>\n

You might ask questions like the following:<\/p>\n