I pulled up to a coffee shop several days ago with my sister, Ellissa, for our weekly mentoring meeting. She graciously asked me to be her mentor earlier this year and we’ve had some incredible meetings over the past 6 months.
As we prepared to get out of the car she began telling me about a really interesting New Years fact she heard about. She went on to tell me about the shocking difference someone discovered when they compared the top 3 New Year’s goals of the 1940’s to the top 3 New Year’s goals of today.
Here’s what they look like:
2015:
1. Lose weight
2. Get more organized
3. Spend less money and save more
1940:
1. Go to church more
2. Spend more time with my family
3. Have better character
Wow.
What a difference in goals! I was blown away by the stark contrast as she shared this fact with me. It’s obvious that the mindset and priority of most Americans has changed quite a bit in the past 75 years.
What’s even worse, of all the people who make New Years goals this year only 8% will actually complete them.
Yikes!
Looking at the contrasting goals and considering how low the modern completion rate is, caused me to pause and think about my own personal New Year’s goals and to question what I find most important and valuable in my life. My mind hopped down a rabbit trail and I wondered what the #1 most life changing goal could be for a person.
If I could only choose one New Year’s goal for 2015 that I couldn’t live without, I wonder what would it be?
What would yours be?
Maybe exercise five days a week? Eat healthier foods? Read solid Christian books? Spend more time investing in your siblings? Read Girl Defined blogs every week? (wink)
All of those goals are great ones to have and will definitely bring some benefit to your life, but none of these are as life changing as the one goal I’m thinking of.
The most important goal I’m thinking of has brought incredible life changing results to millions of lives over the years. It has given people hope and inspiration, passion and perseverance, purpose and identity.
It has the power to transform your life from an ordinary girl with a ho-hum life to a girl-on-a-mission with a vision to change the world.
What is it? I’m sure you can guess.
Reading the living, breathing, Word of God.
Before you shrug your shoulders and roll your eyes…hear me out! Although that might sound ordinary and basic to you, it’s not. It’s massive!
Have you ever wondered why so many Christians struggle with the same sins as the world and don’t find victory over them? Have you ever wondered why Christian marriages seem to be falling apart more and more? Have you wondered why so many Christians fall prey to sexual sins and don’t overcome them?
I’m convinced one of the biggest reasons Christians are not finding victory and freedom in their lives today is because they’re not reading and applying the life changing Word of God.
A study done by Lifeway Research found that 90% of churchgoers “desire to please and honor Jesus in all they do,” but only 19% personally read the Bible every day.
Only 19%.
How are we, as Christians, supposed to gain wisdom for our lives and victory over sin if we’re not even reading our Bibles? How are we supposed to transform our thinking and “put off our old selves” if we’re not even cracking open the source of all truth?
Despite the fact that there are 6,001,500,000 Bibles in print today, Christians haven’t always been this lazy and complacent about reading God’s Word.
Listen carefully to what these “old-time” Christians had to say about the Bible.
“The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.” ― George Muller
“The soul can do without everything except the word of God, without which none at all of its wants are provided for.” ― Martin Luther, On Christian Liberty
“A casual relationship with the Word of God reflects a casual relationship with the Son of God.” ― Unknown Author
“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” ― D.L. Moody
Like these faithful Christians from the past, I am convinced that there is nothing more powerful and life-transforming than the Word of God. That is why reading the Bible is a goal you really can’t (and shouldn’t) live without this year.
And that brings me to my personal challenge for you.
My challenge for you and every Girl Defined reader for 2015 is to commit to reading your Bible once a day, every day this year. Whether it’s 5 minutes or an hour is up to you, as long as you read the Bible every day.
Pick up your Bible, flip to a certain book (Proverbs is a great place to start) and begin reading…today. I am personally starting at the beginning of the New Testament and will read through it and study it over the next few months.
Will you join me in this New Year’s Goal??
I hope you will!
Your life will never become transformed by the power of God if you don’t take the time to read, meditate and apply His Word to your life.
Here’s a few great resources to help you get started.
I pray you will take this challenge to heart and make a commitment to read your Bible every day. When the end of 2015 rolls around, you will have either grown stronger in your walk with God, or weaker. And it all depends on how much time you choose to invest in His Word.
How about you?
- Do you fall in the 19% of Christians who read their Bibles or do you fall in the other category? How often do you currently read your Bible?
- Do you have any tips or ideas on how to get your Bible reading in every day? I’d love to hear about them.
- If you’re up for the challenge, share with me below what Bible reading plan you’re doing and/or how you read your Bible!
Photo credit: /www.flickr.com | Ravailz
