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A New Year is an announcement of the end of a year and the beginning of a new one, where we renew our promises and evaluate our behaviour.<o:p />

The New Year in our lives is that happy day when we know our sins and repent, renew our resolutions toward the spiritual road, then surrender our lives in the hands of God.

A Spiritual person takes advantage of every oppurtunity for his benefit and progress.

Some Spiritual Resolutions for the New Year:<o:p />

• Examine yourself: Evaluate your spiritual record, are you progressing or regressing?
• Have you kept your resolutions of the previous years or have you forgotten and neglected them?<o:p />
• Has your spiritual life improved during the past year?<o:p />
• What have you offered God during the past year? What have you offered Satan, the tempter of our world?<o:p />
• What sins have you committed? Have you tried to avoid these sins and hate them?<o:p />
• Have you lost any friendships or have relationships with others gone array in the past year? If so, what was the reason? How can you make things better?<o:p />
• Did the positive aspects of your spiritual life grow?<o:p />

Examples:
+ PRAYER: Did you spend more time in Prayer and conversation with God?

+ BIBLE: Were you satisfied and able to benefit from reading the Bible?

+ FASTING: Was your bodily fasting accompanied by fasting of the senses, and of the thoughts?

+ GIVING ALMS: Have you increased your contributions? Do you give only material things or do you give your time and your love too?

+ VIRTUES: Did you get rid of your bad habits and train yourself on virtues? Were you angry with your brother without cause? Did you condemn others?<o:p />

• Do you feel God's hands in your everyday life? Do you realize that He does not treat you according to your sins, but is very kind and patient, waiting for your return?<o:p />
• Do you do any productive work for the Church or do you do you just criticize?<o:p />
• What are your aspirations and our dreams? Are they all earthly thoughts reflecting your daily concerns?<o:p />
• Does the world have priority in your life?<o:p />
• Do you depend on God, or on yourself and your possessions?<o:p />
• Do you live a life of thanksgiving, or do you always complain?<o:p />
• Do you see God's image in people, or do you only see their mistakes?<o:p />
• Do you live a life of holiness as the Bible says. "Pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." (Heb.12:14) ?<o:p />
• Do you forgive others, or is your heart filled with envy, hatred and revenge?<o:p />
• What about the virtue of love in your life? What kind of love is it? Is it cold? Is it Spiritual love or carnal love? Does it include your enemies? Don't forger our Lord Jesus Christ told us to "Love your enemies."<o:p />
• Are you faithful and honest in all the talents that God has given you? Have you multiplied your talents or have you buried them in the ground?<o:p />
• Do you resist the divine voice or do you obey it?<o:p />
• Are you a stumbling block for the service of the Church or are you active in the church doing constructive things?<o:p />
• Does your tongue offend others or do you use it for praising God and blessing others?<o:p />
• When you realize your mistakes and weak points, do you confess to God and to your Father of Confession, admitting your weaknesses, repenting and renewing your baptism? Then do you partake of the Holy Communion for remission of sins, starting the New Year with a new life?

These are just a few points which need our consideration and self-evaluation at the end of a year and beginning of a new one.



May the Lord continue to bless us and all our actions in His Name in the start of this New Year, and in every year.