The beginning of a new year is a good time to pause and consider the direction of our lives. It is easy to get into ruts and routines (even extremely hectic ones) and thus never stop to consider where we are going or where we should be going.
After the children of Israel had returned home from Babylonian captivity, the people soon became careless in their faith and devotion to Almighty God. Their focus shifted from God to self. So God sent them a prophet by the name of Haggai with a stinging rebuke and warning.
Two times (Haggai 1:5, 7) God said: “Consider your ways!” He told them to give careful thought to what they were doing. According to Hag. 1:6, they try and try to please themselves but nothing is working! They are working really hard, but what they are doing isn’t accomplishing anything! Do you ever feel that way?
God is saying, “Do what will glorify ME! You want your life to matter and be satisfying and fulfilling and all that is can be? Glorify me!”
With this event in mind, let us stop and consider our ways. Here are some serious spiritual questions (thanks to Donald Whitney) that will help us consider our ways and see if we are seeking to glorify God or self.
• What is the single most important thing I can do to improve the quality of my family life this year?
• What is the single biggest time-waster in my life, and what will I do about it this year?
• What is the most helpful new way I could strengthen my congregation?
• For whom will I pray most fervently this year?
• Who is the person(s) that I most want to encourage this year?
• What is the one thing I could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy that I will leave to my children and grandchildren?
• What single thing that I plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?
• What is the one thing I most regret about last year, and what will I do about it this year?
We must plan for spiritual greatness. It won’t happen by accident. Let us consider our ways.
