Hi Friend!
It’s good to see you here in 2017. I thank God for you.
Do you wonder what our Father has in store for us this year? How will He form and fashion the days yet to come? We have little clue, but it’s evident He’s at the helm. And that’s good.
There’s one thing – if we keep this in view – that will offer us a solid step regardless of what 2017’s path looks like. It’s this simple: keep heaven in view.
When life is lived with heaven in view, God is magnified and hope swells large. Click To Tweet
I'm keeping heaven in view in 2017. You too? Click To Tweet
Be encouraged to grow this year. Spiritual stagnancy is dangerous. Consider setting spiritual goals to fight complacency.
Here are 7 ways for us to stave off spiritual stagnancy:
- Set aside 10 minutes a day to read the Bible.
- Turn on worship music each morning and allow it to flow through your house and heart.
- Sit and simply talk with God. Listen, too.
- Set a timer for 15 minutes and prayer walk around your house or neighborhood. (I love this one. Many a lap has been traveled around my kitchen island as God and I talk.)
- Grab the free “To Do” lists offered to subscribers
here. (Available in the Subscriber Library.) Not only are there daily tasks noted, but so are areas for remembering God’s works in day past, thanksgiving, prayer, and scripture memorization. (Link is also located at the bottom of each email for subscribers. New subscribers will receive a separate email with the link.) - Commit to WORD17 ~ memorizing 1 scripture each month.
- Offer intentional, daily praise. Proclaiming the Psalms back to God is a wonderful means for this if the words seem difficult to find.
However it happens, let’s make it a goal to draw closer to our Lord this year. In case you missed it, here’s one way I did just that. Join me over at Life Letter Cafe?
A Few “Not to Miss” Housekeeping Notes~
WORD17
We’ll be together for WORD17 here each Monday. That’s certain. It’ll journey right to your mailbox, dancing with delight. Happy dance, anyone?
#YourStory
#YourStory testimonies from various Christians around the globe will continue on the first Tuesday of each month. (Another woo hoo! – not only because #YourStory testimonies are coming, but because several are already lined up and they are goooooood!) You can view past #YourStory testimonies here.
Tuesday Posts
Other Tuesday posts may hit on Tuesday – or Wednesday, Thursday, or not at all that week. That’s a bit of a change, flexibility is necessary as the writing load increases. BUT…you’re important to me. We’ll still gather, okay? We’ll still dive into our faith walk, head-on, with words and ministry. We’ll continue to look to the author and finisher of our faith. And I’ll continue writing for ibelieve.com, Life Letter Cafe and other places around the internet, with all links noted here on the blog. And who knows? You might find other uplifting, faith-filled posts that encourage your socks off at those sources as well. They’re bubbling with good writers who have Jesus at heart. After all, it’s all about Him.
Regardless of the changes or consistencies here on the blog, will you commit to one thing with me this year? Let’s lay down self, pick up our cross, and simply follow Jesus. Let’s keep our eyes on heaven as we live day-to-day, leaving spiritual stagnancy behind.
Be encouraged, my friend!
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These are great ways to stay Spiritually “fit”. Find the things that work best for you in growing your affections for the Lord, and fill your time with those things.
What’s best for growing your affections for the Lord ~ yes! Thanks, Michelle.
love the house prayer walk idea – I’m about to exercise -maybe I can pray as I stretch and jump?? not sure – thanks, Kristi! Oh I love using Face to Face every morning by Kenneth Boa – check it out when you get a chance.
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll be checking it out, Sue.
This made me smile: “Many a lap has been traveled around my kitchen island as God and I talk.” I understand! Need to do more prayer walking with God…but my writing load has increased like yours. If I can just commit to 15 minutes a day, it will do my heart and body good.
It has helped me, immensely, Sarah. And funny enough, the suggestion came from the granddaughter of a 90-something great-grandma who prayer walks 30 mins/2x per day.
What a delight daily routines become with heavens view in sight! I pray for the diligence to continually choose an eternal perspective this year! Thanks Kristi for this game changing reminder to be heavenly minded – in all things!
Blessings of His bounty 🌸
Eternity with Jesus in view – you go, Jessica.
#2 – music/worship really helps me too.
There’s such power in those melodies and words, isn’t there Starla?
Love the prayer walk. It’s the cold weather that makes me rather curl up in a blanket. 😉 But around the kitchen island sounds good. Thanks for sharing these intentional ways to avoid spiritual stagnancy. Blessings to you as you continue writing for the kingdom. 🙂
The key – “keep heaven in view”. It unlocks for us treasures that we didn’t know existed! These four words in this order are the key to very profound results.
Great list!
Thanks for sharing!
Kristi, what a lovely article over at the Cafe site. Left you a comment there. Good list you have here. 🙂 (And, maybe you should get a fitbit for all those trips around the island. 🙂 ) So happy for you with all the new opportunities coming your way in 2017. Hope it’s a year of blessings. Thanks for sharing with #ChasingCommunity today. ((hug))
I’m picking up my cross and following Him sister! I want to be so much better at memorizing scripture. I’m going to subscribe so I can do those memory Mondays with you : ) Gorgeous blog!
Love this list for staying spiritually healthy for this year… amazing what the small things can do to usher us into better communion with Him! xxoo Glad we’re over at #ChasingCommunity together this week!
Love these ways that we can be more intentional in our time each day Kristi! Keeping heaven in view in 2017 is a must! #thoughtprovokingThursday
Kristi … I loved ‘When life is lived with heaven in view, God is magnified and hope swells large.’
If I was a tweeter, I’d be sending out this wise message loud and clear. Thanks for reminding us to focus on Him, to welcome hope … and to spend less time worrying about all that’s unsettling us.
Blessings to you today, friend …
Sounds like an awesome plan for the year, Kristi. You are so wise to add in the ‘flexibility’ as well. Looking forward to 2017 with you my friend!