One goal that could change your life forever!

With a brand new year comes a renewed sense of excitement with every message promising goals that will change your life forever! As the anticipation builds, it’s a great time to decide what you will focus on. Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “So you think, so shall you be.” What do you want to be in this new year? Kind, more organized,  prayerful or more loving? What do you think about? Do the two line up?

Focusing on your goals by writing them down, measuring them and reviewing them daily can help you obtain these goals. But I believe there is one goal that should always be at the top of the list.

Having a deeper relationship with God will change your life forever! I don’t care where you are in your relationship, you can always go deeper. Check out my blog entitled Deep and Wide; How deep do you want to go? for a reminder.

If having a deeper relationship with God is one of your goals, here are some tips to help you.

1.  Be intentional. Set aside a specific time to be with God. Put it on your calendar and set a reminder. It is the most important meeting you will have all day.
2. Choose things that will encourage a deeper relationship. Read a blog, devotional or scripture and pray. You could listen to a guided meditation (here’s one I enjoy) or start a gratitude journal, listing all the things you are thankful for. Notice what makes you feel closer to God. For me, as soon as I open my eyes in the morning, I say,“This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” As I move on to my ‘quiet time’ of coffee, scripture and prayer, I choose to focus on God, giving Him the first part of my day. By doing this, I take God with me through the rest of the day.
3. Finish in silence. I generally end my morning routine in silence, not to be confused with prayer time. This is the time when God often responds to me.  Practice sitting in silence for one minute. Next time maybe you will sit in silence for 5 minutes. Then 10  or even 20 minutes. This is a spiritual practice that you can build up to. When you first begin to hear from God, you may not be sure if it is you or God. Write down what you hear. For more information on this subject, check out my blog on “How to hear from God” . Once you begin hearing from God, your relationship with God will grow. Every time we come into the presence of God, we cannot help but be changed. God is so holy.
4. Pause throughout your day to acknowledge God. This is powerful! Every two hours, stop and offer up a prayer of thankfulness, reflect on scripture or just remember God is always with you. Do this for seven days, tracking your progress. You will know at the end of the week if this is helpful. Do what makes you feel closer to God.
5. Last tip, become a part of a faith community. This could be a small group, church or a couple of friends who meet regularly for the sole purpose of deepening their relationship with God. I experience God often through others. Proverb 27:17 NIV reads,“Iron sharpens iron, as one person sharpens another.” For more encouragement on deepening your relationship with God, read my blog on Experiencing God and the power of sharing our stories with one another.

I’ve given you a lot of information. You don’t have to do it all. Just do something! One step forward in your relationship with God has the potential to change your life forever! Leave me a comment below letting me know what you plan to do and what you are already doing. We are here to encourage one another. So with a brand new year stretched out before us, let’s choose to make God a priority starting today! Let us pray.

God of this day and all my future days, I confess I have not made you a priority in my life. Forgive me and help me start each day focusing on You. I long to have a deeper relationship with You. Show me the way. In Jesus Name. Amen. -M