4 Ways to Plan Spiritual Growth in 2012

What I like about blogging is that I can look back at what I wrote a year ago. Blogging is like my “Life Journal”, yet without the extreme sharing of personal feelings. I can look back and see how God has been working in my life.  I can look back and see if I’ve changed in any way.  I can look back and see if this year is too much like the year before. All of us desire to have years of growth -whether spiritually or in wealth. To many of us, it seems like we get years of rut-defining repeats.

And as the saying goes, “if you want different results, you have to do something different.” Losing weight is often the first goal or resolution of the new year, yet I’m pretty excited to see many people talk about wanting to get closer to God in 2012.  All of this remind me of what Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:8

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (NIV)

Just like defining workout plans and creating time to actually get at it, what kind of plans are you creating to ensure training for godliness? I want to suggest 4 spiritual workouts:

1) Spend Actual Time with God -

There are many ways to spend time with God. Primarily, we have to get into reading His Word, His letter, His story for us – the Bible. Yet, buying a Bible or downloading the Bible app to your device and not using it is like buying a treadmill or a gym pass and thinking that’s the hardest part. The hardest part is actually carving out time to open it and read it. You are going to have to plan a specific and repeatable time to create a “spend time with God” rhythm. The truth is that all of us can create even a few minutes a day to do this. Maybe it’s getting up earlier? Maybe it’s getting the Bible on CD or MP3 to play during your commute? Maybe it’s putting the Bible on top of the TV remote, causing you to catch up with God before you catch up on the news? It’s time to change the classic icon of the bible to an opened one, versus only seeing the words “Holy Bible.”

2) Fast -

Just as exercising and eating whatever you want don’t mix, spending time with God can’t be just something you add on.  We have to cut out the junk and go to the source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.  Fasting is a way for us to feel “hungry for God.” Fasting isn’t some type of self-righteous test or temptation boot camp. Fasting is about coming to a place of uncomfort and filling our appetite with really getting to know God more.  We fill our appetite with prayer or more bible reading or reflection or journal or confession, to name a few. It’s putting us at a place where we know we need God. The truth is that most of us are comfortable in our lifestyles. We have plenty of food to eat.  We have a car, a house and plenty of entertainment devices. Almost anything we want is right at our disposal. Maybe it’s cutting some of those comforts out as well?

Proverbs 30:8-9 “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” (NIV)

3) Journal -

Those who are serious about exercise keep track of where they are at in reaching their goal. They get on the scale and record the weight.  They track how many miles they ran and how long it took them.  They count every crunch and bicep curl.  They count every calorie. Keeping a log of repeat temptations and moments of celebration is a great way to monitor your progress.  It holds yourself accountable if you begin to “slip”a little. You may also begin to notice how you get upset over the smallest things. Keeping a journal allows you to step back and see your week or month as a whole. It’s also a great place to record some really great Bible verses or quotes to look back on and teach yourself what you may have already forgotten.

4) Get a Coach and a Cheering Section -

Every great athlete had people pushing them to be better, stronger, faster. Spiritual coaching is no different. We all need people to prod and push us.  We all need people to encourage and support us. Spiritual coaching happens at church, in a small group or One-to-One with a mentor or friend. God has not designed spiritual growth to happen without someone else. The early church had to be told this truth only several years from it’s beginning in Hebrews 10:24-25:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NIV)

Whatever your goals are for 2012, I’m praying they will transform you as God works through you, with you and in you.