Resolutions for God: Spiritual Changes to Work on in the New Year

1. Reflect on the Previous Year

Starting with reflections on your spiritual life in the previous year gives you clarity going forward. It can help you map your journey in your faith and note your strengths as a spiritual person. Journaling about your experiences in the past 12 months lets you express and organize your thoughts as you start shifting toward the new year.

2. Identify Areas of Improvement in Your Spiritual Life

Your reflections on last year also help you identify areas where you want to focus your attention spiritually. Maybe you didn’t pray as consistently as you wanted to, or you want to connect more with other seniors of faith. Write down specific goals or areas in your spiritual life to help guide your specific resolutions.

3. Establish Spiritual Practices

Creating a routine of spiritual practices helps you work in your faith regularly. Your routine might include going to church services weekly, praying regularly and making Sunday a holy day that you spend focusing on God. Choosing a faith-based senior community under the Bethesda Senior Living Communities umbrella makes it easier to incorporate spiritual practices into your life. Many communities offer chapels and spiritual services, and you’re surrounded by staff and residents who are also filled with faith.

4. Create a Prayer Routine

Prayer gives you a chance to talk directly to God and strengthen your faith. Think about your current prayer routine, including how often and when you pray. If your prayer time is inconsistent, you might choose a time to pray daily or set a goal to incorporate more prayer throughout your day. Starting a prayer journal or joining a prayer group can also enhance your practice of talking with God.

5. Schedule Bible Study Time

Spending time with God’s word can change your life. It helps you draw closer to God and understand him better. You can use scripture to help guide your life and work through difficult situations you might be facing. Consider how you prefer to study the Bible. You can follow a Bible study program at home, create your own plan or join a Bible study group if you want to gain insight from others.

6. Simplify Your Life

It’s easier to focus your heart on God and your faith when your life is simple and uncluttered. Starting fresh in the new year with a decluttered home and a simpler lifestyle could help you strengthen your faith. Physically removing clutter from your home can create a more peaceful environment, making it easier to worship God and practice your faith. Consider the mental and emotional clutter that also interferes with your spirituality. You might decide to cut back on your commitments or remove temptations from your life to clear the path.

7. Share Your Faith

When you share your faith, you not only introduce God to others but also strengthen your faith and live out your purpose. Talking about your experiences can help you process God’s presence on a deeper level. You might also create new connections and help build a community of faith in your life. You can share your testimony by talking to the people you meet, being active in your spiritual community, sharing online and volunteering your time.

8. Practice Gratitude

The outside world has a way of distracting people from what’s really important. You might get caught up in what other people have or where you think you should be in life. When you practice gratitude, you can see how blessed you are and how God has an impact in your life. If you find yourself being ungrateful, stop those thoughts and focus on the things you have. Writing in a gratitude journal daily keeps your focus on being grateful and helps you naturally gravitate toward those thoughts.

9. Look for God Everywhere

A similar change you can make in the new year is to look for signs of God wherever you go. Being more mindful and noticing the little things around you are two ways to do this. You might take the same route to the store whenever you go, but this time, pay attention to the breeze from your window or the beauty of the trees you drive by. You can also seek God in the little things that happen, such as running into a friend unexpectedly just when you need to see a familiar face.

10. Serve Others

Finding ways to serve others can help you feel more spiritual in the new year. Look at ways you’re already volunteering or helping. Can you offer more to those commitments? Perhaps instead of volunteering to assist with an annual fundraiser, you could volunteer to help coordinate the event. You can also serve others in random but meaningful ways throughout the day, such as helping a neighbor carry their groceries or covering someone’s coffee if they forgot their wallet. Take opportunities to help others whenever they happen.