"Consider your ways."
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”
As I taught through the book of Haggai recently, the title phrase was repeated a few times in the book. As we begin a new year, it is always a good time to pause, look back over the past year and then consider some questions to help us move into this year with greater and clearer purpose. Please "consider" some or all of the following questions as you look forward to what God can do in 2024 in your life.
What one thing can you do this year to grow your relationship with God? Often we try to change too many small things in our preparation to become better in our lives. Instead, it may benefit us more if we were to consider just one singular way that we could do something different. Was your relationship with God at the end of the year all that it should have been? Did you fail often? Did you start a new spiritual discipline and then grow weary? As you start this new year, consider what would make the greatest impact in growth through 2024 and take steps to see that area change in your relationship with God.
Where did you waste the most time last year, and how can you remove, refine, replace and redeem that area this year? Time, by its very nature, has to be filled. What you fill it with is a decision that either advances your life in a forward-focused way or it detracts (steals) valuable moments away from your life. Removing a time-wasting activity can refine your life by replacement with a time-redeeming activity. A sport? Hobby? Scrolling social media? YouTube? Netflix and chill? Consider taking a closer look at what is your time waster and with what are you going to substitute it that will move your life forward with value and purpose?
How can the youth group or your church gain greater benefit by you being in it? This year it might be that you should develop a faithful commitment to your church. Maybe you could serve in a greater capacity with your talent and ability in the youth group. What about serving by joining the choir or working in the children's ministry? Could you mow the grass, or clean classrooms, or straighten up after an event? A body has members and each has a purpose. Consider how God could use you in a greater capacity in His body this coming year.
Your question here. Consider every aspect of your life this year and ask hard questions about each. God is at work in your life and it is always for growth for His glory. What questions about the way your life finished in 2023 do you need to ask in order to see God do a greater work in 2024?