Every January, we commit. 

We commit to exercise more and eat healthier.  We resolve to have the best year ever at work. And yet, we neglect the essential part—our spiritual connection with Jesus. 

Some people have the same reaction to the term “spiritual goals” as they do to the word “budget”! Begrudgingly, we settle for the more-easily-said-than-done, simple fixes.  If you ask a friend how they’re going to improve their spiritual relationship with Christ this year, they may give you one of these examples:

“I’m going to pray more.”

“I’ll make it to church every Sunday of the year.”

“I’m going to volunteer at my church more often.”

“I’m going to read my Bible every day!” 

So often in the spiritual life, we make goals focused on the extremes.  We promise to do more, give more, and show up more at certain times and promise to do less, eat less and sin less at others. Aren’t our lives complicated enough already?  When we focus on just doing more and more, our focus drifts away from Jesus and towards earthly works, losing focus on our well-intentioned goals.

When we focus on just doing more and more, our focus drifts away from Jesus and towards earthly works, losing focus on our well-intentioned goals. @JavaAndJesus Share on X

What if we established goals that focus on our spiritual lives?  I bet you’re confused and thinking this is only for monks and nomads. Oh, how we have complicated the spiritual life to mere appearance and not transformation!

A wise friend of mine, as well as one of my favorite authors, practices the concept of having a theme for the year. I read about this a long time ago and brushed it off as another “gimmick.” A few years ago, I felt compelled to try this idea. While the new year is already here, it’s not too late to choose your theme for the year!  Here’s how I usually choose mine: 

• Starting around Thanksgiving, I begin to pray and ask God what theme He has for me for the new year. Remember this: it’s not God giving us what we wish for. He’s not a genie! This is the practice of asking Him how we can align with His plan for us.
• Involve a few trusted friends in praying with and for you. Share what God is saying to you with them.  Pray together. Encourage them to pursue a theme for the year too. 
• Continue to pray daily and don’t forget to listen.  Remember, it’s God’s message, not yours.  Listen carefully.  Listen to what your friends are telling you, look at the books that you’ve been gifted, reflect on where your prayers are focusing.  His theme for you will become apparent . . . if you listen.
• Write your theme down in a safe place. I use Google Docs so I can track my themes over the years. It reminds me of how faithful God is. 

I hope that you find the practice of establishing a yearly theme as a fruitful endeavor.

---

You can find Jason Weirich at Java and Jesus: Brewing in Jesus’ Word, on Twitter at @JavaAndJesus, and on Facebook.