Each new year is an open book with blank pages to write our stories on. The book is Possibilities, and it starts today. January 1st is a time to reflect on the past, a time to embrace hope and look to a brighter future. Although many people make new year’s resolutions to “start” new things, sometimes we need to look at “stopping” some things. I have chosen 10 things to might want to consider stopping.
1. Stop Spending So Much Time on Social Media
You may be spending way too much time perusing social media on your cell phone. The average adult spends 25% of their waking time on social media and studies are showing it’s causing depression. Besides being a massive time waster, social media tends to make us compare our lives with others. Instead, strive for meeting with and interacting with people face-to-face.
“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25
2. Stop Multitasking
Research has shown that multitasking can lead to memory problems, it reduces our brains’ grey matter, it hurts productivity and efficiency, and it can even increase stress, anxiety, and depression. Instead, slow down, relax, and focus on what is before you instead of trying to accomplish several things at the same time. I can personally tell you that in the workplace, multitasking caused me a great deal of stress.
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Matthew 6:27
3. Stop Being Unhealthy
If you are feeling unhealthy, you probably are. We all know what to do to solve it, stop eating junk food. Instead choose low-fat dairy products, lean meat, consume more vegetables and fruit, reduce sugar and carbs, drink more water and exercise more frequently. The big ones are to stop drinking excess alcohol and smoking cigarettes. There are so many things to be said on this topic but make a healthy lifestyle a priority; treat it like a part-time job. God wants you to respect your body, plus you’ll benefit from staying out of the hospital and living longer.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
4. Stop Holding Grudges
Unforgiveness is akin to carrying a heavy weight around, all the time. When someone hurts you and you don’t forgive them, you are poisoning yourself. Unforgiveness is like taking poison but expecting someone else to die. Even if the other person does not remember the offense or perhaps, they have passed away, forgive them anyway. Believe me, I know it’s hard but let go of the pain. Forgive others and the weight will fall away.
“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” Matthew 6:14
5. Stop Spending So Much Money
I knew someone who would buy clothes and hang them in their closet. Years later they would still be there, price tag and all. Many are paying for apps and services they never use. Take a moment to look through your checkbook and charge card statement and consider whether these purchases were really necessary. It is very telling to see where your money is going. Have restraint when shopping. Don’t go into debt and pierce yourself with many sorrows.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10
6. Stop Creating Clutter
We tend to hang onto stuff “just in case” we might need it. Your home, office and even your car are filled to the brim. Clutter can cause increased stress levels, difficulty focusing, a lower quality of life and a tendency to procrastinate. Eventually you’ll have space issues and difficulty in relationships. I know, my husband is a clutter bug. If you haven’t used an item in a year, give it someone else or donate it to charity. Cast it away, let it go.
“A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.” Ecclesiastes 3:6
7. Stop Being Self-Serving
God has equipped every believer with gifts to use, and it is our responsibility to use these God-given gifts. Our gifts are to be used to build up the church and advance His kingdom. Use your gifts to serve others. You’ll be amazed how God will put you right in your “sweet spot of gifts” in serving others.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”. 1 Peter 4:10
8. Stop Drifting Away from God
It can incrementally be small with each passing year, but if we are not careful, we can slowly drift away from God. One big way you can stop the spiritual drift by intentionally drawing closer to God through reading the Bible.
Did you know that the Bible is the best-selling book of all time? The Bible was the best-selling book of 2022. In fact, it’s the best-selling book every single year. In the US alone, 50 Bibles are sold every minute, 72,000 Bibles are sold every day and 26 million are sold every year. The Gideons alone have distributed 2 billion Bibles in more than 95 languages to 200 countries around the globe. More people read the Bible than any other book. In this new year, make reading the Bible a new spiritual habit you incorporate into your daily life. You will see your faith impacted in powerful ways as you study and learn God’s word.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8
9. Stop Stunting Your Spiritual Growth
Like a plant that grows when you water it, God desires that you grow your faith in Him. Water your faith by reading the Bible, but also be Doers of the Word. Spiritual maturity is also spending intentional time praying and encouraging other believers.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” James 2: 22-24
In summary, look around you, God may have placed certain people in your life to share the Gospel. Look for possibilities all around you to share your faith, knowing that Jesus is the only way to enter heaven.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
10. Stop Being Silent
Too often Christians are silent on moral issues that God’s Word clearly says is wrong. There is fear collective demonization: intimidation and retribution by the radical left, job loss by woke companies, being unfriended on social media, losing friends, etc. Stop being silent, stop hiding. It’s time to stop clapping and refuse to affirm what you do not believe.
“We may be insulted, or even persecuted for rejecting the lies of our culture, but the verdict of God is what counts. Heaven views matters very differently than Earth.” Erwin Lutzer
May your new year be one of personal and spiritual growth. May God give you courage and strength in your journey.