Although there’s nothing magical about January 1st, there’s something about a brand new year that often inspires us to set new patterns or quit old habits. For a week after Christmas, our feeds and homes are filled with chatter about resolutions of all kinds and if you’re ministering to teenage girls, this can be a great opportunity to dive into a spiritual conversation about godly resolutions.
When January rolls around, you might hear your girls repeating some version of the phrase “new year, new me.” Like the rest of us, girls are prone to making New Year’s resolutions, but are they resolutions that reflect the world or the Word?
It’s likely that teenage girls will make resolutions that reflect what the world is telling them to but it’s our job as their leaders to help them make resolutions that point them to Christ. Here are some common resolutions I’ve heard from teenage girls and how you can help them shift their focus to Christ!
Her Resolution: Learn to Love Myself / Invest in Myself More
A Better Resolution: Discover My Identity in Christ
Action Steps: There are some awesome studies on identity out there that would be a great first step for this resolution. Help her see that when we understand how Christ sees us, we won’t have to learn to love ourselves, we’ll know our worth and value in His eyes!
Her resolution: Lose Weight / Get Spring Break Ready
A Better Resolution: Make Healthy Decisions / Take Care of My Body
Action Steps: Learning to steward our health is important for all believers. Drink water, eat healthy, and get outside, but make sure you’re focused on the right motivation. Be healthy so you can do the things God is calling you to do to the best of your ability.
Her Resolution: Improve My Grades / Sports / Talents
A Better Resolution: Improve My Grades / Sports / Talents to Use for God’s Glory.
Action Steps: Encourage girls to use their gifts for God by sharing His love to their team or classmates in creative ways and giving all the glory to God. Remind girls that their relationship with Christ is always the priority.
When you’re talking to your girls about resolutions, it’s important to remember that what truly matters is the motivation behind them. Rather than making resolutions in our own strength for our own glory, we should be making them in Christ’s power for His glory!
If you want to get to the heart of a resolution, here are a few questions you can ask to determine whether it’s pointing you to Christ:
Are you making this resolution to glorify God or yourself?
Will this resolution distract me or attract me to Christ this year?
Can I do this in my own strength or am I depending on Christ’s power in me?
Ultimately, worldly resolutions may impact you for a year, but Christ centered resolutions will impact your eternity. Don’t miss an opportunity to talk to your girls about why their New Year’s resolutions matter.
As believers the most important goal for every day of every year for the rest of our lives and eternity is for us to grow closer to Him. Let’s make this our resolution, sisters, and allow our girls to follow us as we follow Christ!
If you’re looking for more great ideas for New Year’s resolutions to share with girls, here are a few that will cultivate their relationship with Christ:
Read your Bible daily.
Read through the whole Bible.
Keep a quiet-time journal or prayer journal.
Share the gospel more. Be intentional with 1-2 people who don’t know Christ.
Consistently disciple someone younger than you in their faith or seek mentorship from someone a life-stage ahead of you.
Limit something that distracts you from spending time with God or commit to putting God’s Word first.
Read more. Choose 1-2 books to read a month that will encourage or inspire you.
Memorize Scripture.
Taylor Cage is a Nashville native, currently living in Oklahoma City with her husband, Baron, who serves as a student pastor at Trinity Baptist Church. After college, she spent three years as a Girls Minister and she’s passionate about building gospel-centered community among women of all ages. Taylor is the Social Media Coordinator for Well-Watered Women and a regular contributor for the Lifeway Girls blog. Most days you can find her writing about God’s Word with a cup of coffee in hand or chasing around her new Goldendoodle, Posie. Connect with Taylor: Instagram