The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that usually by the end of January, you may not have stuck to your commitments, and you feel discouraged from continuing. Our good intentions often cannot stand up to how quickly we get busy and struggle to fit new habits into our lives.

Anything worth doing, however, is worth doing at any time during the year. Yes, it might still be the beginning of the year, or we’re just about at the mid-point of the year, or the days are barreling toward the end of the year again, but some things are good habits to pick up any day, starting today.

Worthy spiritual goals

Jesus said to His disciples: “‘Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’” (John 17:3, NIV) Eternal life is something that can start right here and now for us, and Jesus tells us that it flows from true knowledge about God.

Knowing in the Bible is not just about possessing facts and giving mental assent to those facts. Knowing is about intimate knowledge and giving yourself over to the implications of that knowledge, living and shaping your existence around it.

Knowing your spouse, for example, is about having certain facts about them, yes, but you delight in and lean into that knowledge, acting in line with what you know. If they like pastries, you learn what kind they like, and you go out of your way to pick up their favorites on your way home from work or learn to make them yourself. You don’t simply possess the fact of their preferences, you do something about it.

A few worthy spiritual goals to pursue at any time of the year include the following:

Spend time with God to hear His voice. Whether through prayer, reading the Bible, or speaking with other believers to grow, take time out of your schedule to spend with God, and guard that time jealously. Knowing God well and truly, in the Biblical sense, is eternal life, and we do well to lean in and get to know Him. We read that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed,” (Luke 5:16, NIV) and those times of deep connection with God are vital for our lives too.

Learn how to read your Bible for yourself. Digging into Scripture is a communal activity, but it is also an individual pursuit. Many helpful resources such as podcasts and websites can help you take the Bible seriously, read it in its context, and apply it faithfully on your own. One place to start is The Bible Project.

Be more generous. Generosity isn’t only about money. You can be generous with your skills, your time, your patience, and your compassion. Take the time to see the needs around you, and prayerfully consider how you might help. Christians are not saved by their works, but the Bible reminds us time and again that they are saved by God’s grace through faith for the good works that Jesus prepared in advance for them to do (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Extend grace and forgiveness to others. If you find yourself tempted to criticize, read evil intent into the actions of others, or grumble and complain, consider Jesus and how He loved us sinners (Philippians 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:32).

Before you criticize someone else for their actions, in person or online, take a moment to consider the plank in your eye before you speak on the speck in theirs (Matthew 7:1-5). This prevents us from being unduly harsh with the failings of others, and it helps us bear each other’s burdens better (Galatians 6:1-10).

Learning to set and meet your goals.

It’s one thing to set your goals, and another to meet them. Start small, and be consistent, as that is the way to build good habits that last. With help from someone like a life coach or a counselor, you can learn to set clear and achievable goals that will promote your spiritual maturity and help you flourish in your relationships and other areas of life.

Anything worth doing is worth doing well, and you can begin that journey toward meeting your spiritual goals today. Connect with us today at Santa Monica Christian Counseling for help with your spiritual goals.