It is the New Year and what is the first thing we all do? Set goals!! Or at least many of us do.
According to researchers, at least 60% of us set goals. A Harvard Business Study showed that only “14% of people who set goals [were] ten times more successful in reaching those goals.”
As Christians we should always strive to be better, stretch our minds, and grow closer to God. Therefore, we should set spiritual goals to attain what we are striving for.
There is no reason we cannot incorporate our personal, physical, and financial goals as well. Often those goals go together with God’s will for our lives, so why not work on those goals too.
It is more important for us to be spiritually healthy, then everything else seems to fall into place. So, make it a priority to set your spiritual goals each New Year.
When thinking about setting spiritual goals what comes to mind? Do you need to pray more? Or read your Bible more?
Here are a few ideas to consider when setting your spiritual goals in the New Year:
Prayer
Everyone needs to pray! This is our way of communication with our Heavenly Father. He expects us to pray. And if we do not talk to him daily our relationship with him becomes strained or stagnates.
What happens when you do not talk to your best friend for a long time? Your friendship may be strained or not as strong as it could be. It is the same with our father in heaven.
Maybe you are someone who feels you do not need to pray more but need to pray a different way or for just a little longer. You may decide to go about your prayer life a little differently this year.
You could set a goal to write down your prayers and put them in a box and later go back and look at them to see what God has done for you or for the people you love.
You may decide there are family members, friends, co-workers, leaders, or even clients you need to pray for that you have not made time to pray for in the past.
Maybe you need to set a goal to pray in a different place or at a designated time. Or maybe God is leading you to start a prayer group.
There are several goals you can make when prayer is involved. The specifics are up to you.
“Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Phil 4:6)
Bible Study
Bible study is a worthy goal to set for us all. We can never study the Bible too much. Just like prayer it strengthens us and helps us to grow. And there is always more to learn.
You may only have a specific time of the day that you can do your Bible study.
Set a goal to increase the time you study by just a few minutes or change how you study. Maybe you have gotten bored with what you have been studying. You could set a goal to change what you study.
Take a different approach than you have in the past and you may get a different perspective.
A few years ago I used the YouVersion app on my iPhone and read through the whole Bible. In years past I have used other Bible study applications. One year I used the One Year Bible to study. Last year I was using a Bible study guide to study the Old and New Testaments. This year I am using YouVesion again and I’m going through the Bible chronologically with “The Bible Recap.”
The word instructs us to,
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15).
Bible study helps us to know God’s direction in our lives. The Bible inspires us. It comforts us and helps us to grow closer to God.
Why would we not want to spend some time reading God’s word?
Memorize Scripture
Memorizing scripture is something that comes naturally for some. If you are one who can memorize scripture easily, consider yourself blessed.
There are some who cannot memorize as quickly, and they need to work harder at it.
Whether you are an older person who finds it harder to memorize, you work and are terribly busy and do not feel you have time to memorize scripture or you are a young person who finds it easy, we all need to take some time to hide the word in our heart so that we might not sin against God. (Psalms 119:11)
Set a goal to memorize scripture each week or each month depending on how successful you are with your memory skills.
Check
here for study cards to help with memorizing scripture. You can print them out and use them.
Gratitude Journal
There are so many things to be thankful for in life. If you do not already do so, set a goal to write in a gratitude journal daily.
What better way to memorialize your blessings than to jot down the things you are grateful for every day? These may include things like all your family and friends, your home, your job, or whatever comes to mind.
One thing I enjoy about writing in a journal is the opportunity to go back and read my entries later. Reading through your journal reminds you of all the things you are grateful for when you are feeling down or going through a rough patch.
Years ago, I kept a “joy journal.” I wrote in it every night for a year. I started college and got busy and slowly started to forget to write in it, but I still have that journal over thirty-seven years later.
A few years ago, I ran across my “joy journal” while cleaning and sat down to read through it. It was amazing to read and remember the things God had brought me through at that point in time. I loved being reminded of what God had blessed me with, or done for me. He kept me safe. He blessed me with a wonderful husband and family. He protected me in life-threatening incidents and other situations beyond my control.
I have kept other journals as well over the years and it is such a blessing to go back through them to see what has taken place over the years. And to see God’s hand in it all, no matter what has happened. It is a great feeling.
See my post “
20 Things to Be Thankful for in the New Year” for ideas.
Get More Involved in Church
You may already be involved in your local church and that is a great thing. But there may be some who do not attend church or are not as involved as you would like to be.
Set a goal to get back in church this year or to get more involved.
There are always positions that need to be filled in the local church – nursery workers, Sunday School teachers, youth workers, bus drivers or other means of transportation, greeters, ushers, worship team, and choir members. These are just a few that came to mind.
I do not think I have attended a church where every single position has been filled. They were always looking for people to help.
There are always people needed in some way or another and you may be just the person they are looking for.
Set a goal to get more involved this year. You will be a blessing and will be blessed.
Reach Out to Someone in Need
You will be a blessing to others by reaching out to those in need. Whether it is cooking a meal for a family, driving someone to the store, visiting a shut-in or elderly person, babysitting for someone who needs help or just visiting a friend who is down.
There are so many ways you can reach out to help others.
Make it a point to reach out and help someone or many people if you feel inclined.
There was a song we used to sing in church when I was growing up that has stuck with me for years:
Chorus
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life, may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
You can
see the lyrics to the whole song or listen here.
Set a goal to make a difference in someone else’s life today.
Read Religious or Spiritual Books
Set a goal to pick up a religious or spiritual book or two this year. You may learn something new or be inspired.
There are many good books out there that will bless you by reading and you may learn something that will help you or someone you know.
In fact, I have read several in the past few years that I learned from. They were inspirational and informative.
You can see
my reviews here as I get them posted.
Even though you are setting your spiritual goals, remember to use the SMART acronym to help set those goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Sensitive.
Using the SMART approach will help you with your spiritual goals and your other goals as well.
I believe God wants us to be well-rounded Christians. We should be setting our spiritual goals each year to be better or to do better. Setting your goals is one way to ensure that happens.
I hope you have a healthy and prosperous New Year full of God’s many blessings.
Pamela 