Growing More in 2024!
Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but Yahweh directs his steps.
I’ve heard it said, “To fail to plan is to plan to fail.” While this may be a bit extreme, there is at least some truth in it. We understand the need to plan. We plan for retirement for years. When going on a vacation, we make plans as to where to go, what to do, etc.
There are many exhortations in Proverbs that teach us that planning is a wise thing. Reading those (some are at the bottom of this blog), alongside 1 Timothy 4:7 says, train yourself for the purpose of godliness, we can know that the Lord is honored when we’re intentional to plan for our spiritual growth rather than just haphazardly going through life hoping to see improvement.
On our church app, and the website, you’ll find a Spiritual Growth Plan. This blog is basic instructions on how to use it. Read through the blog, then print out a copy of the plan and work your way through it. Each section is explained here.
The idea is that the basic explanation is on the left, and there’s space on the right to write out thoughts, ideas, lists, and plans.
On each page, there are things to think through. Each element is discussed below:
TIME - you’ve likely heard me mention “weekly rhythm” a few times. This refers to the normal flow of your week. What does an “average” week look like? When do you typically need to be places? Work, school, ballet, gym, etc? The idea here is to think through what your week looks like. Then make sure you’ve worked through the things that are important like church, family group, work, discipleship, family time, etc. This is mostly an evaluation of what you’ve been doing.
GOALS - What would you like to accomplish this year? What goals do you want to set for yourself? Obviously include spiritual goals like a bible reading plan, discipleship, family group, pursuing a deeper understanding of certain doctrines, having regular personal and family devotion times, etc. Be sure to include other goals: health, financial, major projects, etc.
Here’s a helpful guide for setting goals - make sure they’re S.M.A.R.T. - here’s what that means;
S - Specific. Don’t be vague. “I want to read the Bible more” is very vague. “I want to read for 15 minutes every day,” or “I want to read through the Bible with this particular plan” is specific.
M - Measurable. This goes along with specific. You can’t measure “read more” easily, but if you’re reading on a specific plan, either you read today’s planned verses or you didn’t.
A - Achievable - If you haven’t been reading regularly, or if your schedule is typically super busy, then setting a goal to read through the entire Bible by the end of the month probably isn’t realistic. Memorizing an entire book of the Bible each week is something that likely no one can do. Be realistic with goals. Be aggressive, but don’t set yourself up for failure.
R - Relevant. Don’t set random goals. “Learn to speak French” might be a fun thing, but will it be relevant to your life? Learning woodworking skills if you live in a tiny apartment and have no one who’s willing to let you use their shop and tools probably won’t happen. Be sure that whatever goals you set are relevant to your life an situation.
T - Time Frame. Have some sort of time frame connected to each goal. While “Read through the Bible” is a worthy goal. You need to have a timeframe attached to it. “Read through the entire Bible this year” puts that goal in a time frame and helps with the other aspects of this.
ACCOUNTABILITY - The difference between success and failure could easily be accountability. While most don’t want accountability, we all need it. Find someone outside of your immediate family that you trust who you could meet with regularly (could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) and talk about your goals and how you’re progressing. If you know you’ll be discussing these things with another person who won’t be condemning, but will help you strive forward, it will be a great help in staying on track with your goals. Be sure and discuss the specifics of your plan, as well as a plan for regularly getting together with your (same sex) accountability partner.
WEEKLY RHYTHM - This flows out of the others. As you think toward 2024, make a plan, as much as you’re able, as to how you’d like to see each week map out. Depending on your goals, you might need to get up earlier (which also means going to bed earlier the night before). You might need to drop some things (that four times per week karate class might be taking up too much time). Be sure to put the important things like daily devotional, family stuff, church stuff, work, and other “non-negotiable” in your schedule first. Be willing to sacrifice things if needed. We all have 168 hours in any given week. You can’t buy more, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
DEVOTIONAL TIME - again, you need to know what you’ll be doing during this time. First, when? It doesn’t have to be the same time every day, but that’s typically going to work better for most. Also have a place. A time and place really make it more of an “appointment” that you’re keeping. And what will you do? Here’s where the SMART goals are helpful again. Don’t just “lucky dip” (opening your Bible to a random page and start reading). This particular section will be a merging of the previous ones. This will be the most important element of your daily rhythm. The bulk of this time should be spent in the Word. Reading is probably best for most, but an audio Bible is acceptable as well.
PRAYER PLAN - this is simply the prayer part of your Devotional Time. It could also be something you do at various times throughout your day. Just be sure that you’re systematically and intentionally praying for others. Ask me for a copy of the Church Phone list so that you’ll have all the names of your brothers and sisters at Coram Deo and can be praying for them individually. Asking others how to pray for them specifically is a great idea, but you can always pray Colossians 1:9-12 for someone as this really is a relevant need for every believer.
GROWING IN DISCIPLINE - This is everyone’s need. If you haven’t read Donald Whitney’s book on Discipline, you need to. Get a copy ASAP. Read through it systematically. It could be part of your goal to read one chapter a week. The book is very convicting and helpful, but don’t try to implement all the disciplines at once. Work on them one at a time, in the order they are in the book. Maybe focus on one discipline per month, starting with Scripture in January, Prayer in February, etc. Check out my blog on the Disciplines (listed in the growth plan document and on the church app & website) for some thoughts on how to engage in the disciplines. Engaging more intentionally in the disciplines is something that should be woven in to the DNA of your entire plan. And understand this: the disciplines all work together. When you grow in one area, you’ll almost automatically grow in others. Try to be comprehensively disciplined in your life as much as possible.
Plan to change the Plan - you’ll almost certainly need to make adjustments to your plan along the way. Whether it’s that you’ve been to aggressive, dont’ have enough, have a schedule change, or something else, it’s 100% fine to make changes.
As always - if you need any help in putting your plan together, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, one of the other elders, or a trusted mentor. Having a plan and someone to help you stay on track will most certainly be a game-changer in your pursuit of Christ and sanctification.
And know that I love you all and pray for everyone regularly.
Grace & Peace
Rob Signs
Proverbs 15:22 – Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.
Proverbs 19:20-21 – Listen to counsel and receive discipline, that you may be wise in the end of your days. 21 Many thoughts are in a man’s heart, but it is the counsel of Yahweh that will stand.
Proverbs 21:5 – The thoughts of the diligent lead surely to profit,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.