Writing a Simple New Year’s Resolution for Christian Youth

New beginnings present a chance for renewal and a reminder to make a fresh start. Still, New Year’s resolutions can be intimidating, especially for students, who often feel that their lives are already full of assignments and commitments. Some make the mistake of making resolutions so monumental or complicated that they give up before they even start. A New Year’s resolution for Christian youth needs to be simple enough to succeed, while maintaining a strong foundation in the Word of God.

We encourage students to use this opportunity for contemplation and to consider some simple resolutions that they can meet and that will benefit them throughout the year.

Here are 3 simple resolutions for Christian youth who want a fresh start in the New Year:

Academic - Maintain a productive and thankful attitude towards your lessons. Sometimes it can be easy to lose patience with a particular lesson or simply not feel motivated. Instead of giving in to those feelings, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). Remember that when you do your work, you are serving God and benefitting yourself, not trying to please a teacher or just earn a grade.

Personal- Take time each day to be still. It has become part of our culture to be busy. We use our busyness to measure productivity and value. But in truth, our value comes from God. In fact, the Bible specifically speaks against this culture of busyness. God’s word says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). So take just ten minutes a day to sit or lie down and be still. Let the busyness and stress rush past you and do not bow to it.

Spiritual - Allow God to nourish you. The Bible makes it clear that we need the nourishment that God gives us. Jesus told the woman at the well, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst” (John 4:14). We need His nourishment, because the nourishment the world gives us is never enough. So add a chance to drink the water God offers to your daily life, whether it is adding a “daily verse” application to your phone, adding a devotional to your morning routine, or tuning into a Christian radio station when you are driving. You need God’s nourishment.

We would like to embolden students to join us in making simple, obtainable goals that put God at the center of their daily life and will lead to their being blessed. Not sure where to start? Download our free printable template to get yourself started.