Suggestions for 2025 New Years Resolutions

New Year celebrations and the making of resolutions for the soon-to-start-new year are ancient practices dating 4000 plus years ago! Evidence shows that even ancient Babylonians celebrated the start of each new year. Many peoples even worshipped the new constellations and other things that told them the new year is coming. Today, New Year celebrations and greetings are universal.

What are your plans for the New Year? Do you make new resolutions each year or rely on the old standbys - to eat less; lose weight; give up some vice altogether; exercise more; save more money for the future; re-connect with loved ones; etc.?

I am the last person to turn to for advice on making New Year Resolutions and for many different reasons. However, here is my ADVICE  for making productive 2025 New Year Resolutions. 

1. Pledge to pray every day - and stick to it no matter what. 

2. Use prayer guides that support your desire and effort to pray with Scripture on a daily basis. I highly recommend subscribing to the Magnificat or God’s Word Among Us or other similar works. I think most of us need aids like these to continue to pray daily with a sustained focus and purpose. The Bible readings teach us more and more about God even if we have prayed the words hundreds of times over. They help to direct our prayer in the right ways and means. Learn to meditate with the words of our Lord and his apostles and the prophets of old. 

3. Use a Sunday Prayer Journal that directs your activities for the week. I recommend Journaling with Sunday Scriptures by Fortifying Families of Faith. The journal will help you understand that each Sunday is the beginning of a brand new week and new opportunities to grow in faith, hope and love. Each Sunday is not the end of a weekthat has been replete with mistakes, regrets and missteps. Rather its the start of a new week with new opportunities to do and be better in your personal relationships: your relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and in other personal relationships. Order it today: https://fortifyingfamiliesoffaith.com/shop/ols/products/2025-edition-journaling-with-sunday-scripture.

4. Join a prayer group. This will be a learning experience if you haven’t joined one previously. Joining a prayer group will challenge you spiritually, mentally, and personally.

5. Sign up for a 24 hour Adoration slot in your parish. This would be a New Year Resolution worth making.

Resolutions can be helpful if they help to heal us physically, mentally and spiritually. And they can help increase our Hope in Christ; increase our Faith in God the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit; and increase our Charity toward others when directed by the Holy Spirit through prayer and personal commitment.  These resolutions are worth making as you head into 2025. May God bless you and your family with an increase in Faith, Hope and Love in 2025.