Are you going to make any New Year’s resolutions for 2024? It probably isn’t much of a surprise that the most popular resolutions in the U.S. are to exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight, save more money, and spend more time with family and friends. For followers of Jesus, we might commit to read through the entire Bible or spend more time with Jesus in prayer. Here are some more ideas taken directly from God’s Word:

• Be positive — “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

• Be kind and forgiving — “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

• Be loving ­— “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

• Be a peacemaker ­— “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9

• Be generous — “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” 1 Timothy 6:18

• Be a servant — “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” Ephesians 6:7-8

• Be a disciplemaker — “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20

• Be joyful, prayerful, and thankful — “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

I pray that God will work in you and through you during this coming year. Thank you so much for your prayers and support of Reach Beyond ministries, missionaries, and partners. We are so grateful for you!

May the Lord bless you with His strength and fill you with His joy as you walk together with Him in the New Year!