Start Fresh With Christ
Pursue a life of Godliness through a Christian education at GCU.
Written By
Kayleigh Shaw
Professional Writing Student
Pursue a life of Godliness through a Christian education at GCU.
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Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Ministry Coordinator of Spiritual Life on Jan. 7, 2026.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
Struggling to keep your New Year’s resolutions? Discover how to refocus your goals around Christ for lasting peace and purpose. Learn practical tips for spiritual growth, character building and embracing grace throughout the year.
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans."
We prioritize going to church, bible studies and all the other day-to-day rituals that sometimes we forget to genuinely connect with God one-on-one. While yes, going to church is important in growing in your faith, it does not help you grow internally if you are not also seeking God; it can be an afterthought.
This is one of my favorite things to focus on, as it allows you to challenge yourself to grow in your behaviors and become more Christlike. Achievements are more or less wants; however, if we are focusing too much on doing rather than living, that can lead us to obsess over the wrong things. While we do live in a materialistic and hungry society, if we are only pursuing the fun things, we won’t grow as a person and persevere during the hard things.
Leaning and surrounding yourself with others can help influence you to pursue your goals while also providing you with inspiration. Whether it is going to church together, creating a bible study or just sharing your journey with them. Having other people in your life who encourage you to pursue your faith and grow as a person can make it easier to continue your goals. When you are struggling, sometimes all you need is a push from a friend to know that you’ve got this and everything will be ok.
When we choose the Lord through our goals, it not only encourages us to seek Him out but also to listen to what He is showing us. Keep reading to find goals that could spark inspiration for the year.
So, it is the end of January. Remember those New Year’s resolutions you made, and how they lasted only two weeks? Well, if you are already struggling with anxiety, stress or even overwhelmed by the new year, turn it over to the Lord, rethink the goals you made and turn them into something refreshing for the remainder of the year.
One goal I made for myself this past year was to spend time with people who genuinely care about me and not let unhealthy relationships take over. I journaled it, and every time I needed a reminder or just a mental refresh, I would turn to that page and reread all the goals with the reasons behind them. Spending the quality time to curate and write out all the goals you want to achieve throughout the year can help you not only remember them but also have something to look back on and see your own improvement from the beginning of the year.
It can be hard to write out your feelings and ideas on paper, and communicating can be a struggle for many people. Even journaling can make some people feel embarrassed, as many people do not address their feelings and emotions head-on. However, seeking the Lord, praying for understanding and His guidance and actively looking at things in your life for inspiration can create goals that can stick with you throughout the whole year.
A common issue that many of us face is worrying about things not going perfectly or not the way we imagined. However, that is not the case; we cannot predict the future and expect things to be perfect. However, it is important to place your worries on the Lord and remember that there is tomorrow. You do not have to achieve your goals in one day. You have many opportunities to learn from your mistakes and make new memories that help you grow into better Christians.
As we move further into the year, remember that resolutions aren’t about perfection — they’re about direction. When we center our goals on Christ, we invite Him to guide our steps and transform our hearts. Whether it’s focusing on spiritual growth, building Christlike character, leaning on community or embracing grace, every goal becomes an opportunity to draw closer to Him. Don’t let the pressure of the world define your success — let God’s purpose shape your journey.
