New Year’s Day is almost here. No doubt, many are looking forward to some New Year’s Eve events. Some people will be glad this year is just about gone, and a new one will be here in just a few hours.

People, especially Christians, need to realize that they will be the same at the end of 2025 as they are today, unless deliberate steps are taken to make a difference. If you do nothing different, you will get the same results you did at the end of this year.

There are some things that you need to do to please God and have greater fruit and joy in 2025. They are not new, but the old fundamentals of the faith. They include being baptized, reading the Bible daily, prayer, going to church regularly, tithing, and witnessing.

Parents, remember that if you do not think church is important enough to attend it, your children never will. Even worse, it is highly unlikely that they will ever be saved or live right. It is the influence of the Word of God and other Christians in their life (and yours) that helps keep people on the right path.

God invites you to consider the question: “what is your life?” If it is not headed in the direction it should go, will you confess failure in 2024 and ask Him right now to make 2025 a year that honors Him in all you do?

Today is a good day to take a few minutes and reflect on how well last year (2023) went for you. While we all hate to make mistakes (and sins), no doubt we can learn from them.

One thing we can learn is to think about what led to that failure and how to prepare to avoid it this year. Most likely, there are some things we can look back on and say we did not do our best for God in that area. Confess it.

Paul had the solution to this problem. The text verses for today reveal his attitude about it that enabled him to live an amazing life for God and accomplish so much. Of course, most of my readers are not preachers, but there are still some things we can apply to our lives to come out better this year than the last.

They are:

1. Realize you have not reached perfection yet: “I count not myself to have apprehended.”
2. Limit yourself to doing one primary thing in life: “this one thing I do.” “No man can serve two masters.”
3. Stop looking back to the past – no matter how glorious or regretful: “forgetting those things which are behind.”
4. Give your focus and all your heart to what is in front of you: “and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”
5. Aim for the gold prize – not a bronze one: “I press toward the mark for the prize.” Do not seek to settle for second best in what you do for God.
6. Please Christ in all things because that is what we are called to do: “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” There is no higher calling than that which God has given us.

I am not necessarily suggesting that you make New Year’s resolutions for 2024 that often do not work, but rather seek to recommit yourself (surrender to His will) today to live for God this year. Ask His direction each day – and do it. He will guide people that are sincere about following Him.

May God bless you in your service for Him.