New Year, New Goals
January often brings gray skies and some sadness when I see the Christmas decorations come down. Happy times spent with family and friends are just memories. Yet the beginning of the new year can be a time of hope and new resolutions.
After the indulgence of eating their way through the holidays, some resolve to start a new diet or at least show restraint at meals. It is important to care for our bodies because the Holy Spirit indwells this earthly temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul wrote a letter to Timothy in which the apostle recognized the importance of keeping our bodies in shape. Yet he exhorted his younger follower to move beyond thinking about life’s physical and temporal aspects. He speaks to all his readers when he writes, “Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7b-8). In addition to thinking about weight loss and exercise goals for this new year, consider this question: “What spiritual goals are appropriate for the ministry wife this January?” I propose three goals, which are tightly linked to each other.
- Seek a closer walk with the Lord, which leads to the desire to…
- Institute a regular Bible reading plan, which leads to the desire to…
- Love all the saints in your church.
1. Spiritual growth is the goal of each believer
Paul describes a servant of Christ Jesus as “being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed” (1 Timothy 4:6). As the pastor’s wife, you realize that your life is on display to some extent. Pray that the Lord will help you set the tone for spiritual renewal in your church. Timothy is a ministry leader told to set an example to believers “in speech, conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
The strength of your walk with the Lord affects your family and community. Notice how Paul exhorts Timothy to “practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.”1 Timothy 4:15
Your influence on others is a reason to seek a closer walk with the Lord this coming year. Your love for your Savior also motivates you to listen to His teaching. This knowledge leads you to…
2. Plan a regular time in God’s Word
There is a reason so many of us consider starting a Bible-reading plan in January. It fits with the idea of a fresh start and implementing resolutions. Some of you will choose to read the Bible in a year; others will begin a schedule of reading the entire Bible in two years. You can find such plans on the Internet. My church has Bible reading handouts available in the foyer of our building. It is special to know that many in our church body are reading the same passages. We even have a communication channel that provides a place to give insights and comments about the reading for the day. If your church doesn’t read the Bible together, you might be the person to begin this project or encourage someone else to do so.
We share the calling to be trained in godliness.1 Timothy 4:7
Working with your church might encourage you to be more consistent. No matter what your church decides, prioritize daily Bible reading this coming year. Time in the Scripture leads you to…
3. Be intentional about loving each member of your church, even those who lack value in the eyes of the world
“God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:24-25). For example, Paul addresses slaves as fellow saints. In the first century, this stood out as a remarkable aspect of the love of God for all his people. The love of the Lord flows into the love of Christians for each member of the body.
The example of Christ motivates us to reach out to the marginalized. Think about Jesus stopping his journey to touch a leper, heal a blind man, or converse with a grieving widow.
Keep Christ in mind when you see someone who needs extra attention. The love of Christ compels you, as it also compelled Paul, to share the gospel and the love of God with all types of people: “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all…that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Looking outside yourself to love others comes from your connection to Christ through the Holy Spirit.
To summarize, look at the beginning of another year as an opportunity to institute some new habits. New habits to care for your physical body are important, but watching your soul will yield eternal benefits. Seek a closer walk with your Savior. That desire will bring you to recognize your need to spend time regularly in God’s word. Meditating on God’s word from the Old Testament to the New Testament will guide you to keeping the first and second greatest commandments: to love the Lord God completely and to love others as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). This love for others will set an example for your church and reflect God’s love for you. Happy New Year!
©2024 Caroline Newheiser. Used with permission.
About The Author

Caroline Newheiser
Caroline Newheiser is the Assistant Coordinator of Women’s Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary-Charlotte. She has been a pastor’s wife for over 40 years.