Happy New Year: Back to the Grind

on bible_study, New Year, Chall, habits

Happy New Year

Today is the first day back on the grind for me. I wanted to raise a mug up to everyone living in the future with me. If you have goals for this year get started and do something today. Don't give up!

If you don't have any goals do something anyway.

No Default Living

One of the conversations that came up a few times as the 2014 wound down was how folks felt stuck. It took me a while to figure this out but life does not happen to you. You have made decisions, whether implicit or explicit, that ave brought about your circumstances. If you know you are making bad decisions then the first step is to stop digging. If your circumstances are coming because you are doing nothing then now is the time to do something. Pick a direction and go. Stop wandering.

Will it be easy? NO!
Does that make a difference? NO!

Eat Your Veggies

So what will I be doing? I mean it is easy to give advice but how will I be living it? I am glad you asked that.

I am going to focus on buliding/strengthing a habit each month. For January I am focused on Prayer/Bible Study. I am following Professor Horner's Bible Reading Plan. This is a challenging plan in that you read 10 chapters each day. At the end of this 8 month program you will have read:

  • The Gospels (Matthew, Mark ,Luke and John) four times
  • The Pentateuch (first 5 books) twice
  • The Pauline Letters 4-5 times
  • The OT Wisdom Literature six times
  • The Psalms at least twice
  • The Proverbs a dozen times
  • The Book of Acts a dozen times
  • The OT History about 1.5 times
  • The Prophetic books about 1.5 times.

I use the bible app Youversion. The app allows me to listen the chapters in order.

While following this plan will go throughout most of the year I am using January to establish the rhythm needed to keep it up. Last year I Followed the M'Cheyne One Year Program. There is even a audio podcast on iTunes to help with listening.

Challenge

If you are up to it. Pick a habit you want to establish this month. Let me know in the comments and I'll check in with you. For those that make it thourgh I will do a giveaway on 30 Jan 2015.

I look forward to walking with you this year.