Resolutions (part one)
One thing I really appreciate about Faith Promise is the focus on resolutions and goal setting. It’s a passion of the pastor, and it has become a part of the culture of the church. From church-wide goals to personal growth plans, I find myself right at home.
In the midst of my goal setting, I realize that I am once again face to face with the Beast of Familiarity. If I’m not careful, my driven personality drags me into stale religion and rule keeping. I can read through chapters without being pulled into and overcome by the Text – without being engaged by the Personal God of the Universe.
Because of this, I’m doing a couple of things this year:
- I’m using a different Bible translation (NLT) than the one I normally read (NIV).
- I’m committing to spend more time journaling my prayers – either written or typed.
What about you? What helps you to stay focused on Christ? Is there anything new that you’re committing to for the year?
January 7th, 2009 at 9:30 am
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I would like to dispute your use of the word “translation”… NLT is a paraphrase!
That’s all!
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January 7th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
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Lan, although the original Living Bible was a paraphrase, the notes from the translators make it very clear that it is a translation from the Greek and Hebrew.
http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Bible/Translations/New+Living+Translation+(NLT).htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan
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January 8th, 2009 at 9:44 am
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Last year focusing on a word and verse for the year were very helpful to me in staying focused on Christ. My word was thankfulness and I regularly jotted “thanks lists” in a prayer journal. I think I will continue that this year as well as the practice of selecting a word and verse to focus on. Writing out on paper what I am learning and how blessed I am is a wonderful spiritual growth tool for me, especially later when I look back and have that tangible proof of God’s faithfulness.
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