“In the beginning God…”
“In the beginning God,” is a verse highly recognizable to most Christians, but most often underrepresented. Of course, the entire Bible is not in a chronological layout, however the creation story does mark the beginning of time as well as the beginning of the Scriptures. It is also notable to understand that God references Himself as “the Beginning and the End” (Rev. 22:13 NLT).
I know what you are thinking. So what? Why does it matter? Well, if the Good Book starts with God, perhaps you should too. Begin the New Year walking with the Holy Spirit. Start your day with God’s Word. Create a new life with Jesus at the center!
How arrogant it is of us to think we can do it alone. How foolish it is of us to not set priorities in life and give Him the time He deserves. How hard it is to start a new habit, lifestyle, or even a relationship. What if I told you the only thing keeping you from God is you? Could you fathom that YOU are your own roadblock? I couldn’t. I was blindsided by the fact that I was in my own way. I thought for sure that I was being held back by others, or even the Devil. I mean after all, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12 NIV). It is much easier to put blame on something we can’t even see.
Let’s run through some scenarios. If I challenged you to start your year with God, what is your knee-jerk reaction? Let me guess, “I don’t even know where to start,” “When would I have time?” “What if I can’t follow through and can’t even make it to February?”
Starting your year with God requires broad thinking, unfortunately allowing the details to seem like a sea of uncertainty. So, let’s refine our search a little more. If I challenged you to start your day with God, what is your knee-jerk reaction? Let me guess, “I don’t have time since I have kids,” “I can’t wake up early enough,” “I would have to change my whole morning routine.”
Trying to plan a bunch of details requires intentionality. You probably don’t like the sound of that, but it is true. Practically speaking, it is hard. Tactically speaking, it is the most useful and fruitful trait you can acquire. So how do you start training your “intentionality muscle?” Find someone that you trust, ask them to pray for you and give them specific prayer focuses. Let them know you want to grow but are just having a hard time.
Now, let’s ruminate for a minute on why we are having a hard time growing in our faith. How are you in your own way? What roadblock are you putting up in front of yourself? Where are you placing blame? How have you tried in the past to be intentional in your faith? How long did you try?
I have found that you cannot do effectively what you do not do consistently. Growth takes time.
Before you leave, here are some practical resources you can use to grow in your faith.
Church of the Highlands has a One Year Bible that is accessible on their website.
Ramsey Solutions has a short article on 5 Simple Steps for Successful Time Management.
My Pastor, Chris Hodges developed two prayer resources, the first being the App Pray First. He also wrote a book titled, Pray First: the Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer.
Pastor Craig Groeschel authored the book The Power to Change: Mastering the Habits That Matter Most.
The Bible App is a foundational piece of technology that can help you grow if you maintain a high screen time.
