As we come to the end of one year and the beginning of another, it's a good time to do some self examination. Are you where you want to be in life? Whatever your life is like, are you happy with it? If you could have projected ahead ten years ago, would this be what you wanted your life to become? If you knew that your life had to remain just as it is now for the foreseeable future would you be satisfied?
Probably, most of us would like to have done better with our lives than we have done to this point. Probably, most of us would like to do better from here on. We can come up with all kinds of reasons. Some of us have relationships that are not what we want them to be. Others are facing a pretty shaky financial situation. Some are not where we want to be in the job market. Still others have some health or physical concerns.
What about your spiritual life? Is it good, reassuring, rewarding? Are you where you want to be spiritually? Are you confident of your eternal destiny? These are far more profound considerations than those previously mentioned. Most of us would probably like to be stronger spiritually than we are right now. Most would probably like to be more spiritually in tune with what God wants us to be. Most all of us would probably like for our faith to be stronger and our spiritual lives in general to be better.
So, what are you going to do? Will you simply wish that you could be stronger spiritually? Will you put it out of your mind and let another year go by without any spiritual growth? What will you do?
This is a great time to refocus. We're ready to begin a new year, a natural time for making things right, turning things around, making new commitments, new beginnings... Make a commitment today to focus on strengthening your faith and developing your spiritual life this coming year.
A great first commitment would be to be at church services every time they are scheduled that you can possibly make it (don't look for excuses to miss). Commit to reading the Bible through this year (just three chapters a day most days will do it). Make time to pray several times every day. Purposefully focus on your spiritual life every day. Pray for God's guidance and wisdom each day. Commit to allowing your life to be directed and governed by spiritual values first.
Try this approach to life for one year, this year, and see if next year at this time you don't feel better about your life...
What about your spiritual life? Is it good, reassuring, rewarding? Are you where you want to be spiritually? Are you confident of your eternal destiny? These are far more profound considerations than those previously mentioned. Most of us would probably like to be stronger spiritually than we are right now. Most would probably like to be more spiritually in tune with what God wants us to be. Most all of us would probably like for our faith to be stronger and our spiritual lives in general to be better.
So, what are you going to do? Will you simply wish that you could be stronger spiritually? Will you put it out of your mind and let another year go by without any spiritual growth? What will you do?
This is a great time to refocus. We're ready to begin a new year, a natural time for making things right, turning things around, making new commitments, new beginnings... Make a commitment today to focus on strengthening your faith and developing your spiritual life this coming year.
A great first commitment would be to be at church services every time they are scheduled that you can possibly make it (don't look for excuses to miss). Commit to reading the Bible through this year (just three chapters a day most days will do it). Make time to pray several times every day. Purposefully focus on your spiritual life every day. Pray for God's guidance and wisdom each day. Commit to allowing your life to be directed and governed by spiritual values first.
Try this approach to life for one year, this year, and see if next year at this time you don't feel better about your life...