A blank page in a journal, a new job, moving to a new city, seeing a $0 balance and knowing you’re out of debt. What do these have in common? A fresh start! A new beginning!
For most of us, a new year ushers in excitement and hope for the challenge of a new year.
We’re a couple of weeks into 2024. Where are you on the spectrum? Excited for a new year? Filled with fear and trepidation as you look around and see what’s going on in the world? I hope and pray not the latter.
For me, I’ve always loved the start of a new year. It offers the opportunity to start afresh and anew in many areas. It’s like turning a page in a book to a new chapter and realizing it’s blank. Totally up to YOU where you go from here.
How about you? Have you set any goals? Made any resolutions?
I know many who think it’s a waste of time to make resolutions or even think about it. Most say they won’t stick with it so why bother. Personally, I love to set goals. It helps me have some sense of what I want to accomplish and not just meander and drift through life. Even if I don’t reach every goal with perfection, if I can work to achieve a 1-10% change in whatever area of life, I figure that’s striving in the right direction.
One of my bosses years ago at Chick-fil-A corporate told me when I was 17 years old that he ALWAYS set goals in numerous areas. As he put it, how do I know what to aim for if I don’t sit down and plan out where I’m headed. He was a strong believer and also told me he prayed and asked God for help in writing those goals. In addition, he was a graduate from Georgia Tech. I admired him greatly; his advice in this area has stuck with me all these many years.
I know some folks who, like me, have begun 2024 trying to make changes in several areas. I just listed a small sample below:
Getting out of debt
Losing weight
Cutting down on sugar or cutting it out completely
Eating clean – no fast food
Eliminating soft drinks
Adding exercise
Quitting smoking
Cutting back on alcohol or giving up alcohol
Getting organized
Cleaning out/donating to charity vs. being a pack rat
Reading more/better use of time
I certainly have my own goals related to several of these categories. I hit the ground running on January 1, 2024. That made me feel good to start at “ground zero”, if you will, and not procrastinate.
For those of you who got a slower start, it’s still not too late. We’re still at the beginning of 2024. As the old saying goes, “It’s never too late to turn over a new leaf.”
Now for the million-dollar question. Have you included spiritual goals in your list for 2024?
Will your journey in this new year be defined as “I did it my way” or will it be “I surrender all”?
Will this be the year you decide to let God and Jesus control your life and be in the driver’s seat? Will you purposely strive to be more dependent on God/Jesus vs. self?
I know many Christians who have Jesus as their Savior. Oh, they know they’re going to heaven when they die. But does that mean one lives any old way after receiving Christ as Savior? To some it does. I don’t think the Bible bears that out. In I Peter 1:16, Jesus admonishes us, through the disciple Peter, to “Be holy because I am holy.” Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2, “Be not conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and discern what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We can’t “renew” our minds without spending time with the Savior and in the Word.
But what about here on earth? Are you living a surrendered life? Are you truly spending time in the Word, seeking to know God’s will for your life?
What will you do in the spiritual arena of your life in 2024? Will it be business as usual or will you commit to spending time in the Word?
While we’re still in the first few days of the new year, I want to BEGIN with the spiritual goals. Why? I’ve learned, maybe the hard way at times, that putting God first makes a HUGE difference. Matthew 6:33 bears that out. When we put God on the throne and look to Him first, He takes care of all the other things (with us still having some responsibility, of course).
But just as I write down my practical goals and what I will do to accomplish them, I will do the same with the spiritual goals.
For instance, one of my practical goals is to lose some weight this year. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas was especially difficult for me. My hubby and I had Covid again shortly after Thanksgiving. That illness, along with working daily, put me behind for the holiday season. What did I do? I turned to food and sugar when I was stressed. All that to say, here are some of the practical ways I plan to drop the weight.
- Eat more veggies and fruits
- Include more protein and complex carbs vs. simple carbs
- Less snacking
- Drink lots of water
- Exercise at least 4 days a week
- Initially cut out ALL sugar.
I could add a few more, but I won’t bore you with the details. I’m trying to make the point that I can’t just have a GENERAL goal of wanting to lose weight. I need a PLAN and SPECIFICS to help me achieve my goal.
Just as with my physical body, I need to have a PLAN in my spiritual life. I must be INTENTIONAL! If not, I’m going to drift. As I heard a preacher say just a few months ago, our natural inclination as sinful beings is to drift away from the Lord, not towards Him. We see and know this from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. I know this from personal experience. If I don’t have the desire and PLAN to grow in my spiritual life, it sure isn’t just going to happen because I accepted Jesus into my heart and life years ago when I was a little girl. It’s just unrealistic.
Years ago when I was single, teaching school and living back home with my parents after graduating from college, I took a class at my home church from our associate pastor, Ed. This man was warm, personable and a powerful preacher. But what stood out to me was his joy and infectious spirit. He loved the Lord, and it showed. His love for the Lord was contagious; it was one reason I had signed up for his class!
The purpose of the class (I don’t remember the title of the course) was to help each of us go deeper in the Word and to have a strategy during our quiet time. In this class, he taught us how to read scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us. He didn’t belabor it. We had a book to follow, and he navigated us through the steps. But what I remember is that he was extremely transparent. Just because he was the associate pastor (and such a gifted man of God), he didn’t tell us or act like he always had his act together spiritually. Ed spoke of his own quiet time and what he did to draw closer to the Lord. But he also shared of how he struggled and what he did when he failed. As a young single professional in my 20’s, his vulnerability and honesty were a breath of fresh air for me! And there were other older and more mature believers in this class. In fact, to my amazement, there were tons of them. God used this man, as well as the other Christians in this class, to speak to my heart and give me a deeper desire for the Lord.
I grew from that class! Oh, please don’t think that I mean I implemented everything he taught or discussed. But the hunger I had for the Lord, to know Him and do His will was ignited in that class. The Holy Spirit used Pastor Ed, his transparency and passion for God to help me realize that – and I’ve told him so through numerous texts and cards.
All that to say, I want to share with you what I plan to do spiritually in my life this year. It might seem pretty simple and common…maybe it is. But I’m not taking anything for granted.
Maybe you’re a mature believer reading my blog, and at this point, you’re rolling your eyes and sighing. You’re wondering why I’m wasting your time with the ABC’s.
All I know is sometimes we need to “get back to the basics”. It can benefit each of us, even if we have known the Lord and walked with Him for a long time.
I’m reminded of a story I heard years ago from my pastor as he relayed a sermon from Adrian Rogers about “getting back to the basics”. Maybe you’re familiar with it:
There’s a story about the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi. And it is said that one day his team had played miserably, and he brought them all in for a meeting. And the legendary coach wanted to get the boys back to the fundamentals, back to the basics of the game. And he reached in a bag and pulled out a football, and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Now, these are professional football players, but he’s saying, I’m going to go back to the rudiments, back to the basics, “Gentlemen, this is a football,” and to go from there. I think that’s what the church of the Lord Jesus Christ needs to do today, is to go back to the very basic, fundamental, rudimentary elements of our faith. So I want to tell you, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is a Bible.” This is a Bible. It is the Word of God. We need to go back and find out what God wants us to do.
So, I plan to follow Vince’s and Adrian’s lead and discuss some fundamentals.
If your goal, like mine, is to draw closer to the Lord this year and live
more of a spirit-filled existence, what do we do? What are our specifics?
Here are just a few of my specifics that I hope/plan to carry out:
- Getting up earlier to have time to read my Bible, read my devotion (I’m actually using two books this year, but both will be very short reads) and have a meaningful prayer time. I don’t know about you. But I have days and moments when getting up 15-30 minutes earlier is difficult. I want to hit the snooze. I want to stay curled up in my warm bed. I am praying and asking the Lord to help me be more disciplined in this area. I hear some of you saying, “Laura, I’m not a morning person”. For years, I’ve heard Sunday School teachers, pastors and other lay people teach if you’re not a morning person, have your quiet time later in the day…maybe even at night. My personal opinion is this…and it’s just that, an opinion; when Jesus walked the earth, every time we know the details of his day, it’s included that he began his day with time alone with the Father. Most references of their time together even say “while it was still dark”, implying that Jesus didn’t get a full 8 hours. He sacrificed sleep to rise in the wee hours before dawn. If the Son of God, who was perfect and holy in every way needed time with the Father to gain strength, express His praise and gratitude and just bask in that intimacy before the cares of the world closed in on Him, how much more do I need that time with the God of the Universe. Saying you’re not a morning person is just an excuse. God wants each of us to sacrifice. It may be a sacrifice of sleep, time in other areas or whatever the Holy Spirit reveals to you. My intention is not to chastise you or putting anyone on a guilt trip. Pray and ask God when He wants you to meet with Him. He will show you.
- I use two journals during my quiet time. One I use for my immediate family. I write down prayer requests and answers just for Norman and Nathan (and myself). It’s super personal. But in this book, I not only record my longings and prayers for my husband and son, but I record when God speaks to me about either one. Sometimes I write a scripture that I’m praying for one or both. I don’t write in this journal every day, but I do want to allow time to listen and record when God speaks – or there’s been a major answer to prayer. He’s never in a hurry. I want to have time to “sit and soak”. And to get my day started off on the right foot. Just my 2 cents.
- My other prayer journal is for family/friends. I learned a long time ago that if someone asks me to pray for him/her, I have good intentions, but I won’t remember if I don’t write it down. I list all the people I’m praying for in this notebook. Sometimes I jot down notes out beside to help me remember specifics…other times I just list names and know the needs. I group these people into categories so I have some sense of organization and routine in my prayers. Sometimes I put family together and then friends. Sometimes I group by need. Currently, I’m praying for 4 young girls and their families who are dealing with eating disorders/anxiety. I know each of these from various aspects of my life – two from the school where I teach, one from my Bible study, etc. You get the point. But I group them together. The same with the prodigals I’m lifting. Sadly, that list is increasingly long. But this notebook/prayer journal allows me to have a visual so that I know I’m covering everyone. Without it, I most certainly forget. On days that I’m rushing to get out the door for work or other appointments, I can’t say that I always use it. I pray what God puts on my heart…and ask Him to bring others to mind, even if it’s later in the day.
But the journals provide some consistency, accountability and record for my own personal use, but it also helps and reminds me of God’s faithfulness. When I’m down, discouraged or doubting, I only have to flip back and read where He has pierced the darkness with an answer to prayer or the answer came and was a miracle.
For the last few days, I’ve failed miserably to use both of these journals. I haven’t even been working so it should’ve been easier. I won’t bore you with the WHY. But I will say this, when you fail…when you don’t get out of the bed earlier…when you hit the snooze…when you’re just lazy, don’t allow the enemy to defeat you. Confess your laziness or lack of discipline to the Lord and ask HIM to help you. Ask HIM to wake you up, to give you the desire, etc. Don’t just give up! There have been days when I’ve had my devotions at 4 pm!! I’m happy to say those are fewer in the last few years than when I was younger. But even as a mature believer who has known Jesus for 50+ years, I haven’t arrived. I’m still working at it. You?
Not too long ago, a casual friend at church, that I’ve known for over 20 years and admire spiritually confessed to me that she didn’t have a consistent quiet time. She was so open and honest and admitted that she didn’t consistently read her Bible at all – for the last 10-15 years!! I was stunned and shocked! I didn’t even know how to respond. Guess you would have to know this friend. She and I have worked alongside each other for years. She’s a very intelligent person, and even though she’s not a teacher by trade, she’s wonderful with children and has a heart for kids. And she knows the Word very well. As I said, she was very open and also grieved. As she confessed to me, “Laura, I’ve taught for years out of MY OWN strength. I’ve done life in MY OWN strength.” She was in tears as she told me. But the important thing is, she was also determined to do something about it. For a few months, she had been in a small discipleship group where they were holding each other accountable to be in the Word daily. It had already made such a difference in her life! I praised her for sharing this struggle with me. But I praised her even more for realizing it and taking action. What a major victory! I share this story as maybe some of you can relate. On another positive note, she relayed how being fed and walking closely with the Lord had made a HUGE difference in her life and teaching! For me, it was a stark reminder that each of us needs people to hold us accountable.
I’ll interrupt my list again to share another personal story. I asked permission before sharing this one. My husband, Norman, is a retired air traffic controller. Currently, he works for a contractor and is a manager over all the instructors who train ALL the new controllers at the En Route Air Traffic Control Center in Hampton. He’s a busy guy! Not only that, he’s very goal oriented. He’s type A and definitely an achiever. He doesn’t just talk about things; he gets them done. He is a mover and shaker, to say the least. Norman confessed to me several months ago that he will close the door to his office to sit and have his devotions. But without fail, he gets a call (sometimes from me), a text, an email that needs immediate attention or gets interrupted by an employee. He said it was almost comical and ironic as it happened so frequently. Now, please understand that Norman gets up at 4:40 AM and is at work by 5:30 AM. He doesn’t HAVE to go in this early, but he chooses to as it’s quiet and few people are there so he can get more accomplished. All of this drama happens in those early morning hours! During this time, he would get home and sometimes not have his Bible reading or devotion time with the Lord until 3 pm or 4 pm in the afternoon. I didn’t chastise him; he already knew that this delayed devotion time wasn’t going to work on a consistent basis. Instead of heaping guilt on him, I’ve tried to pray and ask the Lord to wrap His mighty, strong arms around Norman and protect that time. I’ve prayed that the phone wouldn’t ring or a text or emergency wouldn’t happen. That God would put up guardrails and prevent anything from interrupting Norman’s time. And it’s worked!! Not every day. Sometimes Norman just has to be intentional and ignore the emails, etc. Why do I relay this story? Don’t be naïve, my friends. The enemy wants to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). If Satan can keep you from having one-on-one fellowship with the Lord and time in His Word, he is jumping up and down about it. He is a liar, schemer and deceiver. Just another reason to be on guard and to be INTENTIONAL.
I hear some of you out there saying, “Laura, I WANT to, but my follow-through is weak.” I used to be in the same boat. No one has to encourage me to turn on my favorite TV program or pick up the phone to text a friend. So why should we have to be nudged and prodded to have that intimacy and meet with the Lord?
What helps me and motivates me to get up early and be consistent with my time with the Lord is two things:
- I picture Jesus sitting in my living room, waiting on me (if you will), to spend time with Him. I can’t start my day – or don’t want to if I don’t have SOME time with Him. Do I meet with Him perfectly every day? No! There are times I fail miserably and have 5 minutes to pray. But consistency is key! I believe with all my heart that He honors that, even when we don’t allow enough time. I KNOW the difference when I’ve started my day with Him. It doesn’t mean everything is going to run smoothly. Sometimes, it’s just the opposite. But it does mean I will be empowered to face whatever comes my way because He is with me, leading me and His Spirit is intertwined with my own sinful, fleshly spirit. I want His holy, perfect, loving, forgiving, good and peaceful Spirit to reign supreme in my life. Again, if that’s my goal, I can’t accomplish it without TIME with Him.
- Sometimes I have asked God to help me remember the child-parent relationship in regards to my time with Him. What do I mean by that? Nathan, our son, doesn’t always understand how I NEED time with him. He may like to spend time with me or us, but I LONG, as his mother, to see him, touch him, hear about what’s going on in his life, find out if he’s hurting, listen intently, see if I can help, etc. Just like I so desire that time with my boy, I know God desires that even more so with you and me… His blessed and dear, forgiven children. I hope you get my point.
Suffice it to say, I don’t want to settle for having a prayer time on the way to work in my car. That just won’t cut it. It’s short-changing the God of the universe, and from my limited experience, you sure don’t grow in your faith from those “fast food” prayers.
For me, being able to have a prayer time in which I PRAISE Him first is also key. Very rarely do I start my time with Him with a request, unless I’m deeply burdened or upset. For my hubby, he thinks this routine borders on legalism. But for me, I love it! It disciplines me to focus on God first and foremost. Some of you may remember that I gave you a list of attributes to use as you PRAISE Him. I use two lists of attributes every day. I usually choose one attribute and look up verses related to it – or just focus in on who God is according to that word…how He is my Shepherd, my Refuge, my Strong Tower, my Teacher or how He is Holy, Forgiving, Omniscient or whatever the case may be.
After that, I take time to thank Him for specifics. It’s easy to gloss over this section. In fact, I realized I was doing just that, especially on days I was in a hurry to get out the door for an appointment or work. That’s why getting up earlier is key. It allows me time to think of SPECIFICS to thank Him for. After that, I usually confess my sins and go into a time of INTERCESSION.
During this time, I’ve learned to keep my journal or sticky notes handy. Why? When the Lord speaks, I want to write down what He tells me. It might be two words; it might be a sentence; it might be a few paragraphs. But I’ve learned that I don’t always remember so I make sure to write it down – and record the date!
The other morning, He spoke before I even really got up and going. That was a rare thing! But I tried to record everything I heard!
On days when I have the luxury of more time, I’ve started trying to sing a praise song or hymn. Doing this seems to enrich our time together. And it always lifts my spirits…there’s just something about music and singing to the Lord in the still and quietness…just HIM and me. I’m reminded of the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns, In the Garden. “And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”
On a different subject, let’s move from our prayer time to Bible reading. Reading a book of the Bible for your devotions or certain verses is a good system. But from my limited experience, it’s not enough. I encourage you to be in a Bible study that helps you grow and go deeper in the Word. Of course, your church is an excellent resource for this. I’ve attended numerous classes at our church. A few years ago, I found out about another church in my same denomination teaching a women’s class on a specific book I had read based on a book of the Bible. There were several of us from other churches in this group. What a wonderful group of women from all ages and walks of life. I grew from the book/study, but I also grew from the other ladies and their experiences.
Currently, I am in Bible Study Fellowship. It’s a non-denominational international ministry that’s been around for over 50+ years. Anne Graham Lotz cut her teeth in this organization and has also been a teaching leader. Each year a book or a group of books of the Bible is studied in a four-pronged approach. For instance, last year the study was the Kingdom Divided. During the year, we studied all the major and minor prophets, the kings of Israel and how Israel rebelled and was divided into the northern and southern kingdoms. I won’t lie; it was a challenging study. Some of the reading was hard and difficult to understand. But my knowledge of that time period and the Word increased tenfold. More importantly, God spoke and taught me so much through that study that could be applied to my own life!
This year we are studying the book of John. It’s been a little easier to read and understand. But every year, BSF has a 4-pronged approach. (1.) You have homework that you do on your own where you may read a chapter or two and then answer questions based on your reading. You’re encouraged to NOT use a commentary but answer based on what the Holy Spirit tells you. (2.) You have a small group. In that small group, you share answers to questions and learn from one another. (3.) The small groups reconvene and in the large group, there is a teaching leader that instructs and teaches on that particular week’s homework/discussion. I won’t take time to explain the rest of it, but, hopefully, you get the idea. It’s a systematic and organized approach. And the lessons are written by godly, trained men and women of God; it shows.
Please don’t take this statement the wrong way. I love my church; I have grown from my pastor’s sermons, attending Bible studies, going to Sunday School, teaching Sunday School and serving in other capacities. But BSF has helped me understand the Bible in a way and with a depth I never could’ve gained just from church. I’m beyond thankful to the Lord for a dear pastor’s wife who invited me years ago when I was a new mother. I’ve been attending, on and off, ever since. Look online (bsf.org) to see if it is in your area. I’ll stop with my plug for BSF. I know there are other worthwhile and meaningful Bible programs and studies. Precept Ministries by Kay Arthur is another excellent one, as well as the Bible Recap to name a few.
So, let’s wrap this up and summarize. If your goal is to grow closer to the Lord and be more intimate with Him, here are a few practical suggestions:
- Set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier so you have time to read a devotion, read your Bible and pray. Allow time to LISTEN to Him. “Be still and know” that He is God. Increase to 30 minutes when you can. Maybe even 45 minutes or an hour! Find a special spot in your home. Meet Him there daily.
- Use a journal to record your prayers and answers…and what He’s teaching you!
- Use other resources that may help. For example, a hymnal, a devotional book that inspires and draws you closer to the Lord. Christianbook.com is a wonderful website to find excellent resources.
- Be intentional with your prayer life. Talk to your Creator and Savior. Be still and listen as well…first thing in the morning, driving to work and even when someone cuts you off in traffic! Have a system that keeps you on track.
- Don’t be content to just skim the surface and read a few verses in the Bible. That’s a great place to start, but pray and ask the Lord to help you go deeper. Ask Him to lead you to a good Bible study class or group. Invest in some commentaries, such as William Barclay’s or J. Vernon McGee’s.
I pray one or more of these suggestions helps someone out there in blog land. In no way do I mean to imply that I have it “together” in this area. I’m still finding my way on my spiritual journey as well. I pray the Lord shows me what HE requires of me. As always, I shared on this topic, trying to be obedient and relay what God put on my heart.
I welcome your comments and feedback. Would love to hear some of your suggestions, struggles or encouragement. Thanks for tuning in!
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