It’s 2025… the beginning of another new year… another opportunity to set yourself a new goal. How about setting yourself a new kind of resolution for this year: to read God’s Word every day!

‘Seek the Lord while He may be found’ – Isaiah 55v6

You may have set yourself many different goals in the past and wondered why some of them were so hard to keep… the trick is to set out some realistic and achievable steps to follow. If you do this, you will find it much easier to keep to your resolution.

‘Receive the word with all readiness of mind… search the scriptures daily’ – Acts 17v11

Here are 5 steps to help you achieve your new goal:

1. Set aside some time to read the Bible every day, even for just 10 minutes or so…
2. Find yourself a Bible or download a Bible app onto your phone.
3. If you like to have something to follow, you could use the Daily Reading Planner (see below) or you could choose a book of the Bible to read through at your own pace.
4. Read carefully and meditate on what you have read. Think about the meaning… what is God trying to say to you?
5. Put what you learn into practice – live your life as a follower of Christ.

‘Delight in God’s Word and meditate upon it’ – Psalm 1v2

The FREE Bible Reading Planner suggests a chapter for each day and includes helpful notes. To request your free copy email info@gorseinonchristadelphians.org.uk

Having a chat means different things to different people.  Some might like a “good gossip”.  It can be exciting to hear someone’s news, but we wouldn’t always want others to discuss our personal issues; passing on private information can be hurtful rather than good.

The Bible says,

   “You shall not go around as a slanderer (or talebearer)” (Leviticus 19v16)

Some people want to chat because they are lonely or have a particular problem that they are finding difficult to deal with.

In the Bible, James says,

“let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak”  (James 1v19)

The advice given is to spend more time listening to others, trying to understand their point of view or their difficulties rather than jumping in too soon with our own comments.  We could follow up the standard “how are you?” opener with “are you sure you’re OK?” and then try to really listen and understand the response.  We may make a big difference to someone’s life when we take a few minutes to pause in our busy lives and try to understand what someone is really saying.    Maybe we can then think of a practical way to help them or perhaps there aren’t any solutions to offer but just listening and offering sympathy may still be beneficial.

In the Bible, God offers a lot of practical wisdom on how to live our lives and have good relationships with others, why not open a Bible and read more?