We’re getting ready to enter a new year and it’s a time when many people set goals or choose a word for their year. I’m the type of person who gets excited about planning ahead and making a list of goals for a fresh start!
As we all look forward, there’s likely some area where we want to experience change in our lives. We don’t want to be the same person next December as we are today.
As Christians, we definitely want to be growing spiritually each year. Becoming more like Christ is our ultimate goal.
So how might God change us this year? Here are ten things He might use to make us different as we walk with Him in 2025.
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Here are 10 things God might use to change us in 2025.
1. His Word
As we read and study the Bible, the Holy Spirit uses it to convict us about sin. Or, He may encourage us to step up to the plate and do something for Him that we’re not currently doing.
When we look at setting different habits for the new year, let’s evaluate how much time we’re spending in God’s Word and how we can increase that. One area I’ll work on is listening to the Bible. I’d like to use an app on my phone or a podcast to hear God’s Word daily. That’s not to replace my morning time of reading the Bible, but adding to it.
2. Meditation
I’m not so good at this one. I’ve done the method of writing a verse on a 3×5 card and putting it in a prominent place in the kitchen or placing a sticky note on the bathroom mirror. But after a couple of days, it’s like I don’t even see it anymore.
But I know meditation will help me. I’m thinking of choosing a Bible verse for a week and maybe using it as my iPhone screen saver or finding other ways to keep it front and center in my mind. Then I can change to a different verse for the next week, perhaps focusing on an area of temptation or a Scripture that I want to turn into a personal prayer.
3. Prayer
We might think more of prayer as a way God might change others, but the act of praying can change us, too. God can increase our faith as we see prayers answered. Including praise and thanksgiving in our prayer time focuses our thoughts on the greatness and goodness of our God.
4. Preaching
Being under the teaching of God’s Word, whether in a church service on Sunday or watching an online Bible study video during the week, can cause us to grow spiritually. The Holy Spirit can use a sound Bible teacher to show us truths and principles from God’s Word. Again, I like to listen to sermons from favorite preachers and Bible teachers on podcasts.
5. Music
Every time I’ve had a major trial in my life, God has given me a song to encourage my heart and draw me to Him. Sometimes I’ve heard it “randomly” on the radio or in church. At other times, a family member or friend has shared it with me.
Tying this into meditation, I could choose a song of the week that I listen to daily and let its message encourage or challenge me for that period of time.
6. Trials
So this one scares me. Trials are difficult events that are out of our control.
Yet I know if I’m going to change, I will likely face some hard moments in 2025. How you and I respond to these trials will determine whether or not growth and change happen. Trials can be times of drawing closer to God as we increase our prayer life and learn to trust Him.
7. Service
God can use our service for others to change us. I would guess we can all relate to a time when we went to be a blessing to someone else, and ended up getting a huge blessing ourselves! Serving changes us as we serve and bless others.
8. People
I feel like this could go one of two ways. We may develop a new relationship with someone who edifies and encourages us in our Christian life. It could be a friendship, a new mentor, or a good counselor.
On the flip side, God may place a difficult person in our lives who makes us see how unloving we really are. Learning to deal with him/her could bring about some very positive changes in ourselves, whether it affects that person or not.
9. Circumstances
This wouldn’t necessarily be a trial, but just something that comes along, perhaps that’s unexpected. Maybe it’s a job change or a new opportunity for ministry. In God’s providence, He may start moving us in a different direction than we had planned.
10. Books
It’s so important to read good books. A couple of books that I think are worth reading every year are Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss and Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot. Remember God by Annie F. Downs is another good book that I re-read frequently.
Books can challenge us to grow spiritually and mentally. Maybe you could make a list of 12 books you’d like to read this year and challenge yourself to read one each month.
As we go into this new year, I hope we’ll keep our hearts open to areas in which God wants to change us. We can trust our loving heavenly Father to do what’s best in each of our lives as we go through this year.
Which of these 10 things can you see God using to change you in 2025?
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