Happy New Year!

I don’t know if you’ve made any resolutions yet? Over the years, I’ve worked out that 1^st January is probably the worst time to start – which is why I waited to post this!

I’m always impressed by Paul’s prayers for the churches e.g. Ephesians 1:15-23 and Colossians 1:9-14. They speak about growth – in knowledge, wisdom and understanding of God and what he has done for us. To grow like this requires habits (they used to be called ‘disciplines’!) that help us keep God central in our daily lives.

So here are some of my plans for 2025:

The Bible in a Year

This year, at church, we’re offering a challenge to read through the Bible in a year, but not starting until the 6^thJanuary (so avoiding eh New Year’s Day issue). The plan we have in mind is a 6 day a week one, so there’s chance to catch up if we miss a day. 

However, the aim of reading through the Bible is a year is not to read the Bible in a year. That would simply be ‘tick a box’ exercise. 

Reading the Bible in a year is a means to bigger aims. These would include: 

• to increase our knowledge of the big picture of the Bible,
• to allow regular exposure to the Bible to influence our minds, countering the influence of the world around us,
• to work through the plan with others, so we can encourage and support one another,
• and, most importantly, to grow in our relationships with God as we listen to him through his written Word and respond in prayer.

Prayer

The 6^th January coincides with a week of prayer, which is becoming something of a tradition. Putting the two together creates an opportunity to develop regular habits, so we might continue the prayer habit throughout the year alongside our reading.

Scripture Memory

I still manage to keep up with verses and passages that I’ve learned. Currently that’s 125 verses! Including the Prologue to John (John 1:1-18) which I memorised earlier this year. Flushed with that success, I’d like to memorise Ephesians 1 sometime this year (but not starting in January!). It would be good to find one or two others to do this together.

And more..

I’ve got some other ideas, but I’m not sure I want to go public with them just yet!

Someone recently said that daily time with God is like eating. We eat food every day because we need to. Sometimes it’s gourmet, sometimes it’s in great company. Quite often though it’s just ordinary, but we still eat because it sustains us. Jesus said ‘man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4). His word sustains us and is necessary for living.

May 2025 be a year of growth in our knowledge of God!

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 17:3