“Greater Things”
Happy New Year! 2026. Time to begin again. Time to make those New Year’s resolutions…or not make them!
The ritual of making resolutions in the new year has pagan roots going back to Ancient Babylon. The Babylonians celebrated the new year (then in March) by making promises to their pagan god to do good deeds throughout the year, thus invoking the gods to produce a healthy harvest that year.
The custom continued over thousands of years and even the early Christian church adopted the practice as an opportunity for spiritual renewal. In the 1700’s, John Wesley held “Covenant Renewal Services” for self-examination and commitment to grow closer to God in the coming year.
Of course, as our world continued to “westernize”, the practice evolved and became much more secular in the 19th century, focusing on individual success and growth such as financial gain and success in healthy living.
Whether you participate in making New Year’s resolutions or not, one thing is certain…resolutions are a choice, when you decide to do something in hopes of a desired outcome.
What are you choosing in this new year?
On “New Year’s Sunday” this year at our church, we sang a song from our Salvation Army songbook called “Greater Things”. This song reminded me of God’s good plans and that His plans are greater than anything I could ever imagine or hope for.
The words to the first verse and chorus are as follows:
WHAT a work the Lord has done
By His saving grace;
Let us praise Him, every one,
In His holy place.
He has saved us gloriously,
Led us onward faithfully,
Yet He promised we should see
Even greater things.
Greater things! Greater things!
Give us faith, O Lord, we pray,
Faith for greater things.
This song leads me to think of 3 things:
- Praise God I am saved! Thank you, Lord for doing a great work in me by your grace! If that were it, that would be enough! Just the incredible reminder of God’s love through the saving power of Jesus.2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) says:
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!Talk about greater things…This is the greatest thing!
- I need more faith. Maybe instead of resolving to do something in my own strength, which will ultimately result in compromise and failure, the one thing I can resolve to do is place everything into His hands asking Him to increase my faith – faith to trust in the greater things.Ephesians 2:10 says:
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Greater things.
Philippians 1:6 says:
…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Greater things.
These good works and greater things should be bringing glory to God, not myself.
So my prayer is, Lord increase my faith so that You may be glorified.
- My response: If I am a new creation, and if I am to have increased faith, I need to live like it…to resolve to be more like Jesus…to live each day as in worship to God.Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Ephesians 4:22-23 says:
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.No turning back.
Therefore, as I approach any resolve – any choice or decision it will be:
- Lord, thank you for saving me. I can do nothing without You.
- Increase my faith in You as I live out Your plan for my life and give you the glory.
- Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
I hope that brings you some encouragement today.
Heather Hanton
Ministries and Media Specialist
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
Women’s Ministries Department
