The new year stretches before us like an untraveled path, holding both promise and challenge. I will not offer resolutions, but instead hopes of resolve—resolve that reflects a heart steadfast in Christ, determined to press forward in faith as the Apostle Paul exemplified. Like Daniel, who resolved not to defile himself, or Joshua, who declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD,” this resolve acknowledges no off-ramps or alternatives. It is singular, unwavering, and focused on the way of Christ.

The Scriptures that shape my hopes today are found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (BSB). These verses embody the spirit of what it means to live forward in Christ, defining my desires for this year.

Rejoice Always
“Rejoice always” is not a call to fleeting happiness or circumstantial cheer but a deep-seated attitude of the heart and mind. Over the years, I have learned that joy is not an emotion tied to favorable circumstances but a discipline rooted in the unchanging character of Christ. Whether life brings calm seas or stormy waves, my salvation remains my anchor, and my Savior remains my source of joy. Paul himself wrote these words not from a place of comfort but often amid hardship and trial. The call to rejoice is a resolve to see Christ as enough, to exult in Him who does not change, even when everything else does. Is this your experience as well? Does your joy rest securely in Christ, or is it tied to things that can fade?

Pray Without Ceasing
Prayer is both a privilege and a necessity. My first pastor, Brother Trenholm, taught me that the Christian life requires two constants: the Word of God and prayer. To pray without ceasing is to live in continual communion with the Lord, bringing all things before Him with persistence and trust. Jesus Himself taught, “Men ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1, NASB). This resolve strengthens the spirit and connects us to the One who empowers us to overcome.

The Spirit of God aids us in this resolve. Paul writes in Romans 8:26-27 that the Spirit intercedes for us when we do not know what to pray, aligning our prayers with the will of God. How often have we found ourselves weak, unsure of the words to say? Yet God meets us in our frailty, turning our groanings into intercessions. To pray without ceasing is to depend continually on the Spirit, knowing that our strength to persevere comes from Him alone.

Give Thanks in Everything
Of these three, this may be the hardest resolve, for it forces us to confront our motives and the posture of our hearts. “In everything give thanks” does not merely mean giving thanks for deliverance from trouble but giving thanks even in the midst of trouble. This requires trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness.

Job exemplifies this kind of resolve. When faced with unimaginable loss, he declared, “Shall we accept from God only good and not adversity?” (Job 2:10, BSB). True thanksgiving reveals what is in our hearts. Do we follow Christ for what He gives or for who He is? Will we bless the Lord at all times, as David resolved in Psalm 34, or only when life is favorable? These are hard questions, and I often find myself praying the wisdom of Proverbs 30:8-9: “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God” (BSB).

Thanksgiving is the will of God for us because it aligns our hearts with His purposes. Chrysostom wisely noted that we must give thanks not only for our deliverance from evils but also for the grace that sustains us in them. How else can we reflect the sufficiency of Christ to a watching world?

A Firm Resolve
As the new year unfolds, these three hopes of resolve shape my prayers and desires. To rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything is not a boast in my own strength but a declaration of my dependence on Christ. May I, like Luther, stand firm, saying, “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me.”

May this be your resolve as well. Together, let us press forward, not turning back, but living with singular focus on the One who calls us forward. Amen.

Cross References:

• Philippians 4:4-7
• Psalm 34:1-4
• Colossians 3:15-17

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