December 2019
00 min
Reading Time
Growth doesn't happen by accident. It's an intentional choice.
You can have big dreams and goals, but if you don't take practical steps toward them every day, how will they come to pass? James 2:20 (ESV) says that faith without works is useless.
At some point, dreaming has to translate into doing.
You have a choice about how you spend your time, how you handle money, which relationships you nurture and how you take care of your body. God wants to see you thrive in every area of life. And He's given you His Spirit to empower you. With Him, you can make great choices that build a positive future!
So much of it has to do with the power of habits—the little things you do every day.
If you've been wanting to get healthier, it can be daunting to create a big workout regimen. So why not start with a ten or fifteen-minute walk every day?
Maybe you want to grow closer to your spouse. You could choose to look for one little way to bless him or her each day. Whether it's making their coffee, giving a sincere compliment, or taking care of a task you know they don't enjoy.
Or maybe there's a skill you want to develop, but you haven't found the time. Decide to turn off all your screens in the evenings and use that time to learn and practice that new skill.
The habits we create might be little things, but they're game-changers!
Our theme for December is "live with intention." And Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) tells us where it all starts:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Habits start with your mind! We all have thought patterns that are keeping us stuck in one area or another. But when we go to God's Word and ask Holy Spirit to help us meditate on it, we begin to renew our minds—replacing old beliefs with new ones.
This month, commit to doing one thing every day that you don't normally do. And while you're at it, you can water that new habit with God's Word.
We've got something to help you! December's Walk in the Word verse collection is full of personal declarations about living with intention. Each one is based on a verse from God's Word.
One of this month's declarations comes from Ephesians 2:10 (NLT):
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."
Dream big, keep God's Word in front of you and commit to building positive habits day by day. And remember: you're not going at it alone! Holy Spirit is at work in you, helping you to renew your mind and create an amazing life.
