5 Spiritual New Year’s Resolutions: A Philippians Bible Study
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Chapter 4 of Philippians has also been a special part of the Bible for me ever since I became a believer. This chapter has helped me reframe thoughts and has helped me start giving my anxiety over to God.
Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
As this Bible passage tells us, God doesn’t want us to be anxious about anything but rather to present our requests to Him with prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Once we have done this, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
With the upcoming New Year beginning soon, we can try our best to start giving all of our anxieties over to God. Anxiety happens to everyone at some point, yet anxiety can be paralyzing when you’re constantly struggling with it.
If you are experiencing debilitating anxiety, you need to talk with a doctor or a therapist about it. There is nothing wrong with seeing a doctor or a therapist to help with anxiety. In fact, God places doctors and therapists in our lives to help us.
Think about everything you are anxious about for the upcoming year and list them. Once you have listed them, pray over them and ask God to help you in your struggle. God will answer, and He will give you the peace that only He can provide.
Paul also urges us to think on only things that are good to help us as he says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
As Paul tells us, he urges us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. When we think about these positive things, it can help our anxiety lessen.
With the upcoming New Year, challenge yourself to give all of your anxieties over to God. While it can be difficult at times, God wants you to bring all of your anxieties to Him. We acknowledge our dependence on God when we turn to Him in prayer and ask for His help.
Struggling with anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of because everyone struggles with it at some point in their lives.
I personally have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), so don’t feel alone in your struggle. You are not less of a Christian or less of a person because you struggle with anxiety. Often, our anxiety can point us back to God and rest in His presence.
Questions to Consider:
The final part of our five-part Bible study ends with setting our hearts on Christ. Throughout the Book of Philippians, Paul reminds us to live for God and to be joyful always.
Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Maybe you’re going through a difficult time right now, and it’s hard to focus on rejoicing in the Lord, or maybe the New Year is bringing up terrible feelings of fear or anxiety.
When we start to feel this way, we need to set our hearts on Christ. Even though there might be difficulties in the upcoming year, God is always with us. He never leaves our sides, and He is always walking with us through every season of life.
The New Year can be a time of change and new starts, which can be scary, but they can also be beautiful. Staying the same and never growing in our walk with Christ is also scary, yet many of us tend to stay with what is comfortable and never take the step to change.
With the New Year starting soon, challenge yourself to set your heart on Christ every day and to rest in the joy of knowing Him as your Savior and Lord. It is important to mention that joy and happiness are not one and the same.
Simply because we feel joyful doesn’t mean we are happy. Happiness is based on circumstances and outside factors, yet joy is based on Jesus.
Set your heart on Christ this year, and you will experience much growth in your walk with Him. Various things will try to grab our attention and cause us to lose our focus on Christ throughout the year, yet we have to be intentional and not allow these distractions to derail our relationship with Christ.
When we make time for God and live for Him, our lives will be much more pleasing to God, and we will be a light for Jesus. Each of us is given a fresh start at the beginning of the New Year, yet it is up to us to use it wisely.
While it is all too common for individuals to make New Year’s resolutions to make themselves “better,” such as weight loss, achieving goals according to the world, or doing anything to grow financially, we know as Christians, our main goal needs to be following and loving God.
Questions to Consider:
The New Year is the perfect time to start changing and growing to become more like Christ. It is difficult to follow Christ at times, especially when we are persecuted or made fun of for our faith, but we have to keep our hearts and minds focused on the Lord.
Even though the world tries to tell us other things matter more than God, they are wrong. God is the most important part of our entire lives, and He loves us more than anyone can. With this upcoming New Year, strive to know Him better and enjoy your time with Him. God loves you, and He has amazing plans for you this year.
Dear Lord, please help me to use this upcoming New Year to live for you, follow you, and help others to know you. The things of the world often cause me to be distracted or cause me to fall away from you.
Please help me to remain focused on you and to live for you in every area of my life. Help me to also cultivate humility and help me to extend humility in my daily actions. Show me, Lord, and remind me of my future citizenship in heaven with you.
Help me to give all my anxieties over to you and help me to know when I need to seek out doctors or therapists to help in my struggles.
Lastly, Lord, please help me to set my heart on you and to rest in the joy of knowing you. I love you, Lord, and I trust you with this upcoming year. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
For further reading:
How Should Christians Approach the New Year?
Can Christians Make New Year’s Resolutions?
25 New Year Bible Verses to Renew Our Hope and Faith
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Marina Demidiuk
