I have been thinking about resolutions and goals as we begin a new year. As I considered the goals I would like to set for myself, the song Take Time to Be Holy came to mind. I encourage you to read through the entire song and reflect on ways to apply it in your walk with the Lord, but for the purpose of this article, let us look at the first verse.

Take time to be holy…

I found an interesting quote that said, “It is inconsistent not to have time for God and wish to spend eternity with Him.” We all tend to invest time, money, and effort in things we care about and/or consider important. As Christians, our number one investment should be eternity and our relationship with our Lord and Savior. Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Speak oft with thy Lord…

1 Thessalonians 5:17 simply states, “pray without ceasing.” This is one of the simplest and best ways to maintain a good connection with the Lord. Simply whispering prayers in spare moments throughout the day is a powerful way to build a relationship with the Lord. I always sleep the best when I have spent a few moments in prayer, giving everything to God before I rest. 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” God cares for you and wants to help you carry your burdens. He wants to hear from you, He wants you to take time to speak to Him and tell him everything on your heart and mind (even though he already knows it).

Abide in Him always…

1 John 1:6-7 “If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” When I think of abiding in Him always, I think of surrounding myself with beautiful reminders of His character, favorite scriptures, people who encourage me, and quiet times in study that bring peace. I think that the key to abiding in Him is building your habits and routines around Him, and finding times and activities that bring you into His presence and center your mind on Him. If you have time to watch TV, you also have time to pray. If you have time to read a novel, you also have time to read the Bible. I’m not saying you should never watch TV again or that you should only ever read the Bible and nothing else. But I am saying that abiding in Him means putting Him first and prioritizing time with Him. Stop giving God the scraps of your day.

And feed on His Word…

Matthew 4:4 “But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” In some of my educational philosophy research, I have seen the mind compared to the body in an interesting way. We feed our bodies a healthy diet of good food and plenty of water. In the same way, we should feed our minds a healthy diet of good information and plenty of ideas. I would like to add that the soul also needs a healthy diet of God’s Word and plenty of prayer. We tell our kids to eat their veggies so their bodies will be healthy and strong. In the same way, we need to study and pray so our souls will be healthy and strong, they are eternal after all.

Make friends of God’s children…

This Christian walk is not a journey God meant for us to take alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” As we walk through this world toward our goal of heaven, it is all too easy to stumble and fall over worldly distractions and troubles. We need our brothers and sisters to pick us up in those times, and we need to be able to do the same for them when they need it. Surround yourself with people who will pick you up when the world knocks you down.

Help those who are weak…

We have so many opportunities to help others, even if it is only in a small way. An encouraging smile for someone who seems shy, a quick text to brighten someone’s day, any small thing to help the people around you feel seen and cared for. It is easy to get caught up in the idea of spending money to help people, but sometimes all they need is your time and attention. Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Forgetting in nothing His blessings to seek.

James 1:3-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” It is easy to see God’s blessings in the good times, but God’s blessings are present in the trying times as well. It may not seem like it when you are in the middle of a trial, but when you get through it, you will be able to look back on it and see a part of your faith that grew. I have tried to change my perspective on trials and call them “faith tests” instead. I can look back on each and every trial I have been through and see how the Lord used that experience to shape some part of my character or deepen my faith and trust in Him. No matter what you are going through, look for His blessings. I promise they are there.

I have a list of goals for myself this year, but I think taking more time to be holy might be the most important one on the list.