Everyone today talks about how busy they are. It is so easy to get caught up in the “here and now” that we forget to look down the road (especially in our spiritual lives) and plan how we will grow and develop in our relationship with God over the coming weeks and years.
Long-term planning is certainly a difficult task, but it is essential in all parts of our lives, especially when it comes to our walk with God. Where do you want to be in your relationship with God in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Or, how about just at the end of this year?
Challenge yourself! Wherever you are in your faith, push yourself to do more and be more by the end of this year than you are right now. Set your sights on your goal, and then measure it off into weekly increments. What can you do each W.E.E.K. to reach your spiritual goal by the end of the year?
W—Worship more! There are three aspects to this: attendance, action and attitude. If your attendance at worship is not what it should be, increase it. If your attendance is maxed but your action and attitude in worship are not always in tune, focus in on that and improve it! Measure this every week to see how you’re doing.
E—Evangelize more! There are three aspects to this: influence, words and actions. If your influence is hindering the gospel, fix it. If your words are not being used to talk about Jesus, change it. If your actions are not leading you to offer, set up and teach Bible studies with unbelievers, focus on it. Measure this every week to see how you’re doing.
E—Encourage more! There are three aspects to this: the written word, the spoken word, the word-in-action. Challenge yourself to encourage your brethren more this year by writing (text, email, cards, letters, notes), speaking (phone call, visit, handshake at services) and actually doing (acts of kindness and service on a regular basis). Measure this every week to see how you’re doing.
K—Kneel more! There are three aspects to this: praying, reading, studying. Challenge yourself to pray more than you do right now, to read (or listen to) God’s Word more than you do right now, and to dig deep into Bible research and meditation than you do right now. Measure this every week to see how you’re doing.
Where will you be in your relationship with God by the end of this year? Set yourself a goal today, and then measure it each W.E.E.K. We cannot be too busy for God!