As the old year comes to a close and the New Year dawns, we often turn our thoughts to resolutions... those ambitious declarations of change we hope to achieve. We commit to healthier habits, more exercise, better time management, or less screen time. Yet, underneath all these goals lies a deeper truth we rarely name: our lives are shaped by the choices we make, and there is no neutrality in what forms us. Every decision, every relationship, and every moment contributes to who we are becoming. What if, this year, we resolved to give attention to the most important formation of all? What if 2025 became the year of intentional soul formation?
To say that everything forms us is not hyperbole. Our world constantly pulls us in various directions. The media we consume, the relationships we invest in, the rhythms of our days—each one shapes our desires, priorities, and character. Ronald Rolheiser writes about cultivating a holy longing, reminding us that spiritual formation is not just about adding a prayer or two to our schedule. It’s about discerning what’s truly shaping our souls and making intentional choices to lean toward God.
Life is Formation
One of the most significant shifts in perspective comes when we realize there is no sacred/secular divide. Everything—from how we spend our lunch breaks to how we engage in conversations with loved ones—is spiritually formative. Even our most mundane activities are shaping us into either “immortal horrors or everlasting splendors,” as C.S. Lewis famously wrote in The Weight of Glory. Life is nothing more than a series of choices and their consequences, and the things we choose to do (or neglect) matter profoundly.
Consider this: how do you spend your time? What do you do with your day? Who receives the best of your attention and energy? These are not small questions, nor are they irrelevant to our spiritual lives. If our hours are filled with distractions and unintentional habits, we are being shaped by those patterns whether we realize it or not. Conversely, intentionality, even in the smallest moments, can foster an awareness of God’s presence and reorient our hearts toward what truly matters.
The Danger of Neutrality
Many people live under the illusion that some choices are spiritually neutral. We think that entertainment, leisure, or even our work can exist in a vacuum—separate from our spiritual formation. But the reality is this: there is no such thing as neutrality. Even our most trivial decisions shape us. A favorite Netflix series, hours spent scrolling social media, or a missed commitment to a friend—each has consequences for the kind of people we are becoming.
Failing to keep our commitments is not merely a one-time lapse. It subtly erodes our integrity, slowly devaluing the honesty we claim to prize. Over time, these small compromises form us into someone less trustworthy, less dependable, and less aligned with the truth we profess.
On the other hand, every moment we show up, every word we keep, and every act of faithfulness strengthens the muscles of character and shapes us into Christlikeness.
Spiritual Warfare and Awareness
Spiritual formation is not a passive process. It requires vigilance and discernment. In a world saturated with competing narratives, we are in a constant state of spiritual warfare. Voices beckon us to place our worth in reputation, wealth, comfort, or control, but these idols leave us hollow. Cultivating a holy longing means learning to recognize these false forms of worship and realigning our hearts with the One who offers true life. "Seek first the Kingdom of God," said our Lord. Do we do the work of intentional focus on the "one thing" that is necessary?
In the 17th-century, Brother Lawrence, a monk wrote about practicing the presence of God in the midst of a busy, yet uneventful, life. He trained himself to be aware of God in every task, from scrubbing pots to sweeping floors. His life demonstrates that intentionality transforms even the mundane into a sacred act. Imagine bringing that kind of attentiveness into the New Year—pausing to notice God in the faces of others, in moments of stillness, and even in the daily grind.
Living with Intentionality
If spiritual formation is about awareness and intentionality, the New Year provides a perfect opportunity to cultivate these habits. Begin by examining your daily choices.
What forms you?
What shapes your affections, priorities, and beliefs?
Here’s one way to think about it: at the end of your day, who or what has had the most influence on you? Was it the time you spent in prayer, or was it the endless stream of notifications on your phone? Was it a deep conversation with a loved one, or was it the noise of a chaotic schedule? Every decision matters because every decision forms you.
A practical step is to consider your rhythms (some would describe these as "unforced rhythms of grace"). What practices could help you become more aware of God’s presence? Maybe it’s starting your morning with Scripture instead of scrolling. Maybe it’s taking a five-minute pause midday to pray. Maybe it’s committing to a weekly conversation with a spiritual director or mentor. These small, intentional practices can have a cumulative effect, gradually shaping your heart and mind toward God.
Immortal Splendors
C.S. Lewis’s words in The Weight of Glory remind us of the weightiness of our lives. There are no ordinary people. Every interaction, every relationship carries eternal significance. The way we treat others, the ways we invest in their flourishing—all of it reflects our spiritual formation.
This year, consider how you might take others seriously in light of their eternal value. What if we resolved to listen more deeply, love more generously, and forgive more freely? What if we saw each person we encountered as bearing the image of God? By doing so, we not only reflect God’s glory but also invite others to see and know Him.
An Invitation
As you step into 2025, let me offer this invitation: make spiritual formation a part of your New Year’s resolution. Recognize that everything forms you. There is no sacred/secular divide; every choice, relationship, and moment matters. Cultivate a holy longing by paying attention to what shapes your heart and directing your desires toward God.
This is not about adding another task to your already busy schedule. It’s about reimagining your life as an arena where God’s presence can be known and experienced. It’s about seeing the sacred in the ordinary, choosing integrity in small moments, and building rhythms of attentiveness to God’s work in and around you. It is catching the movement of the Holy Spirit, and setting your sails accordingly to where He moves, so your life is in sync with the cadance of Christ's creation.
May 2025 be a year of formation—not by accident, but by intention. May it be a year of discovering God in the everyday, cultivating a holy longing, and becoming more like Christ with every choice you make. The invitation is before you. Will you step into it?
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