Happy New Year! !

Wow, it just feels like we have no business saying that yet. We can’t sit on time, and it doesn’t care about what we want; therefore, we have to deal with its speed the best we can in order to be productive. Right? Right!

This is the time of year when the talk about resolutions is quite high. Businesses prey on market to people wanting to lose weight, eat better, get organized, break that habit etc. Sadly, most resolutions just get put on the lowest shelf until this time next year. For believers it is often the same story. I, however, have a suggestion for us.

It is the first week of January 2018. Instead of making a list of resolutions this year, why not choose one thing? Set one goal towards your Spiritual growth to accomplish over the next 8 weeks. To get the juices flowing, here are a few ideas.

1. Pray and read 1 Psalm and 1 chapter of Proverbs every morning (I suggest starting with Psalm 1 and Proverbs 1. To develop consistency, start over if you should skip a day).
2. Memorize one verse of Scripture a week (Just think about how much of the Word you will have hidden in your heart in 8 weeks time! Click here or here for some memory verse ideas)
3. Practice not complaining… about anything (Philippians 2:14; 1 Cor 10:10; again, if you falter you have to start over).
4. Practice listening to others without interrupting (Prov 18:13; James 1:19; Titus 3:2 Check this out for tips)
5. Acknowledge God in everything you go to do (Prover 3:5-6 this is something not often put into practice, but it is something all of us, me included, should be doing).
6. Be a “Secret” blessing to 2 people in need (one a month) (Matt 6:1-4; Matthew 6. Human beings love to be recognized, but that is not the way of Christ. Develop the desire to seek the rewards of God instead of the praises of man)
7. Unplug for at least 30 minutes a day (Feel free to increase the time, but step away from Social Media, Cell Phone Games and Apps, Computer, and Television. Give your brain a chance to relax from technology. During this time you can read Scripture, pray, meditate on the Word, count your blessings etc. Try it, you’ll like it  )

I suggest starting with one thing (but no more than two i.e #1 and #7 or #2 and #6)) and focus on that for the next 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks you can add another, and so on and so forth. Should you have to start over, don’t beat yourself up; there’s no shame in that. Just don’t give up. One habit developed for our Spiritual growth is better than having developed none at all.  What you are striving for is more important than any lofty goals for the flesh.

I pray that 2018 is a banner year for you. I also pray that you experience lasting spiritual growth as you yield to the Holy Spirit and be transformed into the image of Christ.

Happy New Year and God bless you!

Until next time,

Juanita Deloris