Earlier today, I was thinking about my goals for 2010 and I read a post at The Gospel Coalition that is really helping me to narrow my focus as I think through the many goal “options” from which to choose. Of course, my list always seems to be littered with the standard eat-healthier-and-get-up-earlier-in-the-morning-type goals but as I read through this list I was reminded that nothing is more important than increased dependence on Jesus Christ and developing a deeper love for Him. Sure, eating healthier and getting up earlier can definitely be part of this. But I am thankful for the reminder that discipline for the sake of discipline will be joyless and fruitless without living by the Spirit and depending on His provision in each moment to accomplish these things.
“Don Whitney:
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
- What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
- What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
- What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
- In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
- What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
- What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
- For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
- What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
- What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
- What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
Whitney writes:
The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn’t considered the question.
Whitney also offers an additional 21 questions to help us “consider our ways.”
Read [Don Whitney's] whole article here.”
There are also some additional questions (21 more, to be exact) at the end of Whitney’s original article if you REALLY want to get crazy. And I just might!
Article by Justin Taylor at The Gospel Coalition can be found here.
Posted in Personal
