Still having trouble thinking of new year’s resolutions? These questions should help give you a spiritual focus, especially the last question.

What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?

What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

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Paul had it right. He had an equal passion for building existing churches as well as reaching those who have not heard. Paul knew that in order to reach the lost he had to teach disciples to be disciple-makers. In order for us to reach, we must also teach.

It’s important to recognize that Paul’s focus on church planting among the “unreached” and his ministry to the churches were not mutually exclusive. Rather, the two tasks were complementary—two sides of the same coin…his ministry in the churches was a critical part of the church planting process.

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Many of us are dreaming about the new year.

What will you do in 2018? Will it be the year you ran a half-marathon for the first time? Will it be the year you graduated from college? Is this the year you are going to get married?

Many will see this new year as a chance to start afresh, to leave behind old failures and to do something new.

We must not forget that a new year is a gift from the Lord. He determines how long we will live and the events that will happen in our lives. The scripture says in Ecclesiastes 3:11:

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

We often have selfish attitudes towards the New Year. We see it as a chance for us to fulfil our own dreams and our own ambitions. But as disciples, we need to view this new year with God’s eyes. If we remember that another year is gift from God, then we will connect more deeply with his promises, especially about the mission.

1. God is doing His new thing, too. 

In Isaiah 43:19 it says:

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

This year God wants to create something new in your life and in the world. He wants to create fruitfulness where there is now barrenness. When it comes to evangelising the world, God wishes to create worshippers, churches and disciples where there aren’t any. In you, He wants to create faithfulness, love and hope.

2. Another year is a reflection of God’s patience. 

In 2 Peter 3:9:

The LORD is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

We must remember that God will not extend his hand out in kindness forever. One day Jesus will come back and claim His victory among God’s people and the world. But while we still have time, let us remember that by giving us another year, God is showing his patience towards us. He is patient with us because he wants all men to repent and to come back to him. Let’s not take His patience for granted.

3. Another year is another chance for salvation. 

Finally, as the new year approaches we should see the mission task ever more urgently. In 2 Corinthians 6:2, it says:

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

We need to remember that another day and another year is another chance to proclaim to the world’s people of God’s salvation. We may not always have another day or another year. Let us seize the opportunity, while it still lasts, to share God’s favor with the world.

Make 2018 the year you went on a One Year Challenge. For more information go to oneyearchallenge.org and register today.

This week’s Monday Music is made in tribute to all our global OYC sites. We have sites in Australia, China, Hungary, Germany, Norway, Scotland, Bolivia and Haiti.

Our motivations to improve ourselves or turn over a new leaf are often selfish. Zach Nielsen encourages us: “Why not commit to something with others and for others?”

The end of December brings renewed contemplation about new goals for the new year. But this year, why not consider a slight twist to the usual practice of New Year’s resolutions? Why not make all your resolutions communally shaped? Maybe it’s a Bible reading plan, or a new diet, or a new structure for spending time with your kids.

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What was Jesus’ response to seeing the “sheep without a shepherd”? Pray. Start your new year with a prayer that God would send workers to the harvest field.

His answer might not be what we expect. His answer was for his disciples to pray. Pray with fervency, pray with passion, pray from being moved with compassion.

Our hearts may do many things when first hearing the need of the unreached—from pressure, to shame, to excitement and faith, or guilt and fear. Let words of Jesus challenge us today to prayer.

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