Sunday, January 1, 2012

2012 Resolutions - Spiritual

I love New Years. I love that we are gifted, all at once!, with a brand new year, month, week, and day. What a clean slate! I have a few goals in mind for this year, some specific and some general. I thought I'd separate each aspect of my life into individual posts and detail some of my hopes and plans. Of course, this is all dependent on the Lord's will. As James 4:15 says, "you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"

Last year's goals
  • Study Genesis in depth - this goal was mostly met. I read all of Genesis in multiple translations but only completed the in-depth study on the first half.

  • Keep reading the Bible every single morning - success! I think I only missed 3 or 4 days all year. This morning time with God is vital.

  • Start a prayer journal - failed. Completely.


This year's goals
  • Start a prayer journal. I really need to put a priority on this as I think it will make a huge difference in my prayer life.

  • Memorize 52 verses. I want to memorize 52 different verses of Scripture this year, one each week. That is a doable goal, one that I only need to commit myself to.

  • Increase the amount of time I spend reading the Bible every morning. Most mornings, I read two chapters. This only takes 10 minutes or so. I need to read more each morning and spend more time contemplating God's word.

image courtesy of stockvault

My 30 day challenge this month relates to this last goal. I have committed to starting the year off with God's word, reading nothing but God's word. For the next 30 days, the Bible will be my only book. I really enjoyed my month of nonfiction last month, but I want to spend more time with God. When I start looking around the house for a book to read while I have a few minutes of downtime, I will pick up the Bible. When I read before going to sleep, I will pick up the Bible. I think this challenge will be both difficult and rewarding.

As today is Sunday, it's time to pick the verse I'll be memorizing this week.

Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and song

Isaiah 12:2


What are your spiritual goals for 2012?

4 comments:

Springjoy said...

Oh, I love your goals! I also have a journal that I use for journaling my thoughts and prayers in. It really helps me to concentrate and gives me beautiful ebenezers to look back on over the years. I am sure you will be very blessed by doing that!

My goals are to pray more. I let life get me too busy for a while this past year, and haven't spent as much time listening, and my heart misses that quiet time with God. I'm also reading my bible again this year. :)

This is unrelated, but just thought I'd say thank you for joining me in reading challenge 2011 and let you know that this years' challenge is up if you wanted to join! :)

http://blog.beautifulsong.com/2012/01/reading-challenge-2012/

rebecca said...

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matt. 6:10

To pray, not just for my own needs, but that the Lord's will be done on earth, as it already is in heaven. :)

Melissa Baumgart said...

It's kind of a simple one - but my goal is to give thanks before eating every meal. - Amy

Cassandra said...

Amy - I love your goal! I think giving thanks is an awesome way of starting a meal. :)