I am a big fan of celebrating New Year’s. However, my excitement doesn’t stem from any parties or gatherings. It comes from what a new year can represent. A new year is a blank calendar, both literally and metaphorically. Your 2025 may have been a horrible year, but 2026 is completely undefined. What will you do with it? How will you handle the opportunities that lie ahead?
As ministers and those who work with students, what areas should we look to address in our lives? What questions should we ask ourselves as we enter the new year?
• We should evaluate our spiritual lives. We should always be doing this, but the first of the year is a great time to reflect on our daily devotional times and on our hearts for both individual and corporate worship settings. What will my approach to devotional reading be in 2026? What will I do to focus my heart on God daily? How will I balance my ministry responsibilities with my need to join the gathering for true worship on Sundays?
• We should evaluate our physical lives. God has given us one body to carry us through our lives. We have been called to be good stewards of all that God has given to us, our bodies included. I would encourage you to think about how much physical exercise and sleep you get. They are important factors in caring for ourselves. In addition, what type of foods are you eating? This has been an area of struggle for me throughout my life. I like to eat. I am an emotional eater. I like sweet and savory. It is all good to me. If I didn’t care and ate however I wanted, I could easily eat myself into a food coma. Be aware of the example you set for your students and your own children. Eat the right things in appropriate portions. Am I taking care of the body God has given me? What one thing could I change in January that would be a step in the right direction?
• We should evaluate our ministries. It is important to take a step back every once in a while, and see what might need to be adjusted in your ministry. Whether you work with students or another group, our ministries should be constantly evaluated. Are we staying true to the Bible in our approach? Do we highlight Jesus enough? Are our students learning? Are they being discipled? What might need to change to ensure that God is being glorified in all that we do? Too often, we can fall into the trap of comfort and tradition. We must not be afraid to follow as God leads us.
• We should evaluate our family lives. You may be neglecting one of your most important ministries. I’m not saying you are, but if we don’t take time to check in with our spouses and do some honest self-evaluation, it can happen. Look at how much intentional time you are spending with your spouse and children. It is easy to say, “I’m home with them most nights.” However, if we don’t spend the time interacting with them, it is almost as bad as not being there. Plan game nights. Read together. Exercise together. Eat together. Plan a date night with each of the people in your home and put it on the calendar.
• We should evaluate our personal habits. What do you do with your time? Is your world very orderly or a chaotic mess? You may not hit either extreme, but you may want to do some work. I’m adding an analog component to my calendar/planning system this new year. I’m excited about it, but it isn’t a silver bullet. I have to work the system. I have to keep personal goals out in front of me to make them happen. How do I keep my home cleaner? How do I keep my yard looking nice? How do I keep ahead of the personal, but important, aspects of life? Take some time to think them through as we head into the new year.
Whatever your work or ministry, it is important to take some time to evaluate. It can be daunting, and you may not want to deal with the pain that it can bring as you realize the work that needs to be done. However, don’t you want to be in a better place in life and ministry? God provides tools and helps that can get us to where we want to be and where He wants us to land. I’m not saying it will be easy, but with God’s help, you can be more of what He wants you to be. Trust Him for the help, and find someone to help hold you accountable.
If you are looking for an affordable ministry coach, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Student Ministry Matters. I have been serving in ministry for over 30 years and have been coaching for the last 10. You can reach me at info@StudentMinistryMatters.com.
