Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. As we set our eyes on the new year in 2024, resolutions quickly come to the top of our minds. However, I wonder what it might look like if we thought about living with “spiritual intentionality” rather than simply trying to keep a list of resolutions, many of which go unfulfilled.   

When we approach the new year with spiritual intentionality, we seek to align our hearts and actions with God’s will, ensuring that we live purposefully for his glory. Here are some key points to consider as we set our priorities for 2024. I have connected them with the five Vision Pillars of our church: Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Outreach and Missions (see Acts 2:42-47). 

1. Seek First the Kingdom of God: (Worship) Jesus instructs us to prioritize the Kingdom of God above all else (Matthew 6:33). Let us commit to seeking his will in every area of our lives, individually and collectively as a church. 

2.  Prayer and Intimacy with God: (Worship) Prioritize regular, heartfelt prayer and the study of God’s Word. Cultivate a deep, intimate relationship with our Creator, allowing his guidance to shape our decisions and actions. 

3. Holistic Discipleship: (Discipleship) Embrace a holistic approach to discipleship, prioritizing spiritual growth, emotional well-being, and physical health. Seek balance in our lives, recognizing that a healthy, vibrant faith encompasses every aspect of our being. 

4.  Family and Community: (Fellowship) Cherish and prioritize our families and church community. In the busyness of life, let us invest time and energy into nurturing meaningful relationships, supporting and encouraging one another in our faith journeys. 

5. Outreach and Service: (Outreach and Missions) Live out our faith through service to others, both locally and globally. Prioritize acts of kindness and intentional outreach to our neighbors, both within and outside HRBC, reflecting the love of Christ in tangible ways. 

6.  Stewardship of Resources — Time, Talents, Treasures: Recognize that our time, talents, and financial resources are gifts from God. Prioritize responsible stewardship, using these gifts wisely to further God’s purposes and support the work of his kingdom.  

7.  Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude: Prioritize gratitude in our daily lives. Let us approach each day with hearts that acknowledge and appreciate God’s blessings, yielding a spirit of contentment and joy in all circumstances. 

8.  Flexibility in God’s Plan: While setting our priorities, may we remain open to God’s leading. Let us recognize that his plans for us may differ from our own, and trust in his wisdom and sovereignty as we navigate the uncertainties of the year ahead. 

May these priorities serve as guiding principles, anchoring us in the truth of God’s Word and empowering us to live purposeful, Christ-centered lives in 2024. As we set our hearts on these priorities, may God’s grace abound in our midst, transforming us individually and as a church community. 

By God’s grace, we can live out our North Star Guiding Statement: “Loving, understanding and empathizing with our community . . . and the world.”  In one phrase, this means “incarnational living” – being the presence of Jesus to others through our words and actions. 

I am excited about 2024! God is doing some amazing things at HRBC!   

Happy New Year and God bless you,