New Years Resolution: Turn to God – Part 1

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Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart…” (NKJV)

Every New Year brings endless resolutions, and a couple weeks later – endless broken resolutions. I think a big reason why is because the resolutions are often about temporal things, and not about what matters eternally. Or, if they are about God, the resolutions are made in haste, without understanding, or without counting the cost. Within a month, or even a week – sometimes by sunrise the next day – it’s back to business as usual.

I’ve been thinking all day about what kind of New Year’s resolution would be meaningful and worthy of being kept. What would be a good way to start the year off as far as this teaching ministry goes? What would be a resolution that could provide a good foundation for the upcoming year both for me personally, and for you as readers?

Of course, there’s no “right answer” to this question, only my own opinion, or how I feel God is leading me. As I realized my need to turn to God for an answer… that became the answer: “turning to God”. No one on this side of heaven will ever be perfectly turned to God because of our sin nature. So the idea of “turning to God” at the start of this year is valid for everyone; from the unsaved to the seasoned Christian; from the baby Believer to the meat eating mature and everyone in between.

It is not a question of needing to TURN TO THE LORD (because we all do in varying degrees), it’s a question of who, what, why and how to turn to the Lord to a greater degree – no matter where you’re at in life. It’s a lifelong process and the start of a new year is a great time to focus on anew on it, and make it your emphasis for an entire year.

You’re probably trying to catch your breath after the holidays just like my family, so we’ll start out “light” today with this introduction, and we’ll begin in earnest with this series tomorrow. I’ll hope you’ll join me in my New Year’s resolution to more fully, completely and wholeheartedly “turn to God” this coming year. See you tomorrow.

Lord God, help us realize our need to turn to You every day, in every way. Help us to begin to see the areas of our life that are not fully turned to You, and be open to Your conviction and guidance in doing so. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Contemplation: Have you ever turned to God in the first place? Do you see a need to turn to God? Or perhaps RE-turn to God? If you’re not turned to God, who are you turned to? Yourself? Your job? Sin?

Application: There is nothing special about a New Year, but it does often cause us to stop and reflect about what we want out of this upcoming year. I hope you’ll decide that it won’t be “business as usual” and no matter what stage of your walk with Christ you are in, that you will more fully and wholeheartedly turn to God this coming year. Join me in this teaching series, and we’ll make the resolution together.

James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV)

  1. What is the most obvious Bible truth you have learned today?
  2. What change in your life needs to be made concerning this truth?
  3. What specific thing will you do today to begin that change?



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