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Get Closer to God This Year |
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By Belinda Elliot
CBN.com Daily Life Producer
It’s that time again—a new year, a fresh start. This is always the time of year when I find myself looking through old journals and evaluating my relationship with God. Too many times in years past, I’ve been disappointed when I looked back and saw that my habit of spending time with God and studying His Word had not been as consistent as I would have liked. So with a determined heart, I begin each January with a new plan and promise myself that this is the year I will arise faithfully every morning for quiet time with God and read through the entire Bible in a year. I have yet to accomplish either one of those goals.
I always start out strong. Last year, I even added the goal of memorizing one new Bible verse each week. That only lasted until February, and my read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan hit a brick wall once I reached Leviticus. But last year I also had a revelation. God doesn’t measure our relationship with Him by how many verses we can quote from the Bible, or whether or not we read His Word to memory so the Holy Spirit can call it to mind when we need it, but our relationship with God is mostly about spending time with Him. When it comes to studying His Word, I find that having something to guide me through God’s Word helps keep me focused. For me devotional books are often the best way to keep myself on track. With a reading for each day, I always have a determined starting point. Many times when I've used a devotional book, I've found that the verse and thought or reading for that day spoke directly to things I was going through. There are numerous different types and styles of devotionals. There are devotionals for couples, moms, dads, families, youth, and even sports enthusiasts. Regardless of what devotional book you use, or if you choose a more in-depth daily Bible study instead, make a commitment to spend more time with God this year. He desires to have an intimate relationship with you. Take some time each day to give HIm your undivided attention. He can provide peace and wisdom for anythingt that is ahead for you in this new year.