Oh, the excitement and energy of the new year… it helps me forget about the empty space in the living room where our Christmas tree stood.
But you know how it goes; after a few weeks, the excitement of the new year will wear off, and we’ll slip back into our regular routines—despite our promises that this year we would stick to our New Year’s resolutions.
As I’ve been reading Eugene Peterson’s A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (I shared my winter book list in this post), it’s forced me to grapple with the way we (ahem, I) expect instant growth and transformation.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could just snap our fingers and be transformed into the person we desire to be? Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. The things that we desire come from consistently putting in effort.
You’re not going to be strong after going to the gym a few times or lose weight after eating a few salads. You’re not going to save for a vacation if you only keep tabs on your budget here and there, nor will you learn a new language if you only practice occasionally. These are all examples of growth that require diligence and discipline.
Likewise, you’re not going to grow spiritually if you only read your Bible and pray sporadically. These disciplines are critical to our spiritual growth. And, of course, the Bible has a lot to say about meditating on God’s word and prayer.
Joshua 1:8
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”
Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord”
Psalm 19:14
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 119:15, 78, 148
“I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.”
“May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.”
“My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.”
Psalm 143:5
“I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.”
Luke 18:1
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Romans 12:12
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Ephesians 6:18
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Pray without ceasing.”
You get the point.
Prayer and meditating on Scripture are two of the many ways we grow spiritually, but they don’t just happen. We have to make time in our day and develop the discipline of setting aside those things that distract us.
For me, this has looked like reading through the Bible in a year using The One Year Bible. If you’ve ever tried starting in Genesis and gotten bogged down in Leviticus or Numbers, this might be a good plan for you. Each day you read a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. There’s something powerful about reading Scripture day in and day out, year after year.
When it comes to prayer, I found Paul Miller’s book A Praying Life to be helpful. Toward the end, he shares a very practical and systematic way to pray with consistency and intention and also to keep a record of when God answers prayer.
As you look at your list of resolutions or goals, remember that change comes by faithfully walking in the right direction. You won’t get there overnight, but you will get there if you stay the course.
Diligence and discipline aren’t sexy. In fact, sometimes they’re a drag. They require commitment. But if we’re able to learn to push through the resistance, we will start to see the fruit we desire.
As I look back on the years that I’ve grown the most, they were the ones I put one foot in front of the other, plodding along. There was no overnight success. Growth came through consistency.
If you see your friends sharing their impressive list of goals for 2022, don’t feel like you have to keep up with them. Chances are, they’ll give up before the end of February. Instead, set your course on the small, steady steps that will bear fruit.
I’d love to hear from you. Hit reply and let me know if you set any resolutions or goals for 2022.
Shelley
Very encouraging….thank you!
Thank you for this - a very good reminder 😊