When Jonathan Edwards was still a young man, he famously penned 70 resolutions. Consider resolution #4: “Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.” Edwards was an intense man. He would often lament in his journal of his failure to keep these resolutions and bemoan his lack of spirituality.

Resolutions, be they “New Year’s” or any other, have their place, but they can also set us up for failure and discouragement. I recently read an article on “22 New Year’s Resolutions for Pastors.” It was exhausting just reading the article, much less following through on it. The general thrust of the article was not hard to catch – you need to do more!   

Many pastors are already doing too much. Their new year’s resolution should be “I will do less.” They should be praying and asking God to give them discernment to know what is essential to their ministry calling, and what should be cut.

My intent in this article is to encourage you in your pastoral calling, not to inform you of all the things you should be doing, but are not. In recent decades, the simplicity of the pastoral vocation (best distilled in the words of my old professor, “preach the word and love the people”) has been greatly and unnecessarily complicated. 

Nonetheless, in the spirit of the season, here are 6 resolutions for the pastor. These resolutions are not so much about doing more as they are about prioritizing the right things.   

I will preach the gospel to myself every day

A big part of the pastor’s work is centered on preaching and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2). Sometimes in the craziness of sermon preparation, lesson planning, and bible studies, the pastor forgets to preach to himself.

Remind yourself daily of gospel promises such as:

I am loved by God (Romans 1:7).

All my sins have been forgiven (Psalm 103:10-12).

My worth is not in what I own or any of my accomplishments.

My identity is rooted and grounded in Christ.   

My inheritance in heaven is secure (1 Peter 1:4-5)

God is for me, not against me (Romans 8:31)

Make a habit of meditating on the goodness and power of Jesus. Remind yourself that even though your sins are like scarlet, you have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb (Isaiah 1:18). 

I will read and study more

A few years before Billy Graham passed away, he was interviewed by Greta Van Sustern. In one of the questions, Sustern asked Graham, “If you were to do things over again, would you do things differently? Graham responded by saying he would study more, pray more, travel less, and praise the Lord more. 

If Billy Graham thought he needed to read and pray more, how much more so you and me? As it says in Acts 6:4, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Perhaps it is time for you to read through the Bible again in 2024? I have utilized many Bible reading plans over the years, but my favorite is the Robert Murray M’Cheyne plan.

Pastor, do all that you can to immerse yourself in God’s Word. When your own well is deep, you can better nourish your people. I would also encourage you in the direction of reading spiritual classics. One such example is Knowing God, by J.I. Packer. Remember, it is not always about the quantity of books that you read, but the quality.

I will prioritize mentoring and discipling relationships

Paul exhorted Timothy, “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

You already know how important it is to mentor and disciple believers. You know how important it is to train and mobilize leaders within your church. Hone in on this strategic work, and prioritize the individuals that most need your investment in 2024. 

At the same time, don’t forget about your own need for relational investment. Just as Moses needed Jethro to speak wisdom and truth into his life (Exodus 18), so do you. Seek out another man to mentor and sharpen you (Proverbs 27:17).   

I will spend more time with my family

The Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Let that sink in. Christ loved his bride (the church), by dying for her. That’s a high calling for any man, but especially for pastors as they are to model such sacrificial love.    

Your bride needs care and nurturing. Your bride needs help with the kids. And at times, your bride needs a listening ear. In short, your bride needs you. Make sure in 2024 that you are not giving your wife your emotional and physical leftovers. Give her your best!

Additionally, if you’re a Dad, try to spend more time with your kids. I’ve never heard someone say after their children were grown up, “I wish I’d spent less time with my kids.” Almost always, it’s the opposite.

Spend as much time as you can with your family, and take every opportunity to point them to the loveliness of Jesus.   

I will rest more

Burn out in ministry is at an all time high. Pastors are leaving the ministry in droves, many with no plans to re-enter when they get healthier. There are several reasons for this trend, with one of them being a lack of rest.  

Pastor, are you consistently taking a day off each week? Are you taking a quarterly retreat to pray, journal, and meditate on Scripture? Are you taking an annual vacation with your family? These are all ways to recharge and find renewal in your ministry calling.

Furthermore, are you able to say “no” to good opportunities that come your way, but are outside your job description or area of giftedness? The pastor who says “yes” to everything is on the fast track to burnout. 

I will grow in my knowledge of Christ

The greatest thing in all the world is knowing Christ (John 17:3). Don’t waste your time on trivial pursuits. Paul told the Corinthian believers, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

How much time do you spend scrolling social media each day? Probably too much. Take inventory of your life and aim to channel all your energies in the direction of knowing and serving Jesus (Philippians 3:10).

There is an old John Newton hymn that starts off like this: “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.” Amen!  

Rest for Your Weary Soul

Pastor, as we say goodbye to 2023 and enter into another new year, strive to make the best use of your time, and to find your rest in Jesus.

Whatever burdens you are carrying, take them to our Lord.

His invitation is glorious. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).