Cindi McMenamin
Author
Do you have a plan for growing spiritually in the next 12 months?
I had to start writing out a plan every January to ensure I didn't end the year in
the same place, spiritually, as I was when the year started. Year by year, we
might not notice a lack of spiritual growth in our lives. But you'd be surprised
how quickly ten years can pass without having memorized one verse of
scripture, without confronting a habitual sin in your life, without having shared
the gospel with an unbeliever, without having experienced a point in your walk
with God that lit a fire under you and caused you to live differently.
Instead of making "new year's resolutions" each year, I sit down with God and
ask "How will I grow more in love with you this year?" By being intentional
about setting goals to prioritize my relationship with God, I've found the result
is growing in my relationships with my family and friends, as well. Setting some
spiritual goals for the next year also helps me ensure that there is fruit
developing from my life each year instead of being a sponge that continues to
soak it all in, but gives little out.
Here are some examples of a few of the spiritual goals that I've set through the
years, many of which repeatedly stay on my list from year to year. Try a couple
of these, and maybe even come up with some of your own, so that you are one
year closer to Christ -- and to those you love -- by the time next January rolls
around:
1. Meet with God before anyone else. Do you have a plan, first thing in the
morning, to meet with God before anyone else? It's one way of prioritizing Him
above anything and anyone. It's also a way of making sure you're at your best,
emotionally, by the time you start interacting with your family. My devotional
book, God's Whispers to a Woman's Heart, is designed to help you meet with
God for a few moments every day and get into the Word at the same time.
2. Get into God's Word every day. If you've owned a Bible for years but have
never read the entire book, this is a great time to start. There are several good
resources available to help you read through the Bible in a year. Try it in a
different translation than you usually read. Or, ask yourself where you want to
be in your relationship with the Lord by the end of the year and then set
tangible goals for getting there through study. For instance, if you want to know
God better, consider a study of his names in the Old Testament and Jesus' "I
am" statements in the New Testament. If you need to slow down and learn to
listen for his voice, study all the Word says about "rest" or "hearing" or his
"voice." If there are character traits you know you need to work on, consider an
in-depth study of some or all of the fruits of the spirit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ).
3. Participate in a weekly small-group Bible study or lead one among your
friends, neighbors, or co-workers. We can grow at a faster rate in community
because we are able to share our experiences with one another and hold each
other accountable. Find a small group study in your local church or be the
catalyst to start one among friends or neighbors or even co-workers during
your lunch hour.
4. Record your blessings and answered prayers . Keep a "blessing book" in
which you record every blessing that comes your way throughout the year,
adding a prayer of thanks or praise. In addition, write out your prayer requests
and record the answers as they come. By writing out these types of things, you
will not only be more keenly aware of how God is working in and around your
life, but you will become a person who is able to "give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" ( 1 Thessalonians
5:18 ).
5. Pick a 'theme verse' for the year . Say it aloud every day. I guarantee if you
do this, by the end of the year - and probably a lot sooner - you will have
memorized one more verse of Scripture. Choose from Psalm 90:12 , Psalm
119:32 , Psalm 119:133 , Galatians 5:16 , Philippians 1:27 , Philippians 4:6-7 , or
find one of your own.
Make some of these action points priority in your life this next year and
hopefully, by the end of next December, you'll be not only another year older in
your body, but another year older in your faith and walk with Christ.
How will you grow in your faith and walk with God this next year?
Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker and the author of
several books including When Women Walk Alone , (more
than 120,000 copies sold), When a Woma
No comments:
Post a Comment