“The noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.” - Isaiah 32:8
Every January I like to set spiritual goals for myself to help navigate through the upcoming year in a way that advances my sanctification. The following are some goals I have made in the past or may be considering and praying through for this year. I will choose some of these (and others), but I am giving you this list as you pray about your own resolutions for the year.
Daily Commitments:
I will seek to walk with Jesus moment-by-moment, confessing sin, rejoicing in troubles, praising Him for blessings, interceding for others, and will assess myself nightly, under the leadership of the Spirit, right before I go to bed, on how well I accomplished this
I will memorize Ephesians (or Philippians), and review it daily for one hundred days
When complimented I will openly, then privately, give all glory to God
I will seek to grow in the area of complaining, concentrating more on thanksgiving through the day.
I will seek to make the most of every moment, asking God consistently, “Is what I’m doing right now useful to You in the building of Christ’s Kingdom?”
I will keep a daily record of time expenditures, on an hourly basis
I will have devotions with my spouse on a daily basis, including Biblical intake, worship, and prayer
I will pray for my spouse first every day, I will pray specifically, and I will share with him/her regularly how I prayed for him/her (perhaps at dinner, in front of the children)
Weekly Commitments:
Once per week, I will read 1 Corinthians 13 out loud to my family and will ask them how well they feel I have obeyed that chapter
I will seek to make Sunday more of a day of rest and worship, focusing my mind and heart again on my glorious future in heaven
Monthly Commitments:
Whatever aspect of 1 Corinthians 13 or Galatians 5 which consistently comes out as a problem, I will concentrate on that character trait with prayer and fasting once a week for a month
Once per month, I will meet with my spouse to discuss ways to bless the poor and needy materially
I will deny myself something once per month to make a monthly commitment to a homeless rescue mission or some other worthy ministry to the needy
I will fast at least once per month, all day including dinner, on the second Wednesday of the month, unless led to a different time by the Holy Spirit
Once per month, I will compare our expenditures to our budget to be certain our spending is appropriate
Prayer Life:
I will spend one hour per day in prayer, giving attention to adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, and using the Bible to help me worship
I will seek to rejoice in any afflictions God brings my way, asking God daily to help me learn to do what Job did when trouble came
I will keep a prayer notebook, asking God for specific things and trusting Him to answer prayer
I will pray daily for increased faith, and will ask God for opportunities to step out in faith, and to stretch me to new levels of trust
I will confess sin to God in such a way that I remind myself that I constantly “live and move and have my being” in Him, and that “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight”
I will pray more consistently for world missions, concentrating on specific people groups and missionaries so as to maximize my prayer effects
