“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail…”

This saying came to my mind the other night as I was contemplating the New Year and imagining all the ways I wanted transform myself in the year to come. The saying almost arrested me, as if to say… all these hopes and visions of yours will come to nought if you don’t plan.

But how do you plan for character change? What goals do you set?

I’ve written some New Years musings here before about planning and goal setting and the importance of keeping eternity front and center as we make our plans. But how does one plan for eternity practically? What does that look like in the day to day?

“Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth….[For] this world is fading away…”

(Colossians 3:2; 1 John 2:17)

I watched a YouTube video that really helped me to start thinking practically and concretely about this very topic.

In it, YouTube teacher Allen Paar pulls some principals out of Philippians 3:12-15 that show us how we can thrive in every season of life.

He starts off by encouraging us to complete an assessment of our spiritual lives. He breaks down our spiritual life into 8 different areas and poses a question for each to help us to assess where we are in each one:

• Prayer – Is my prayer life consistent? Effectual? Fervent?
• Bible Study – Am I spending consistent, unhurried time studying God’s Word?
• Fasting – Am I spending time dedicated to intense, focused time with God?
• Worship – Am I faithfully setting aside time to simply worship God?
• Giving – Am I generous in stewarding what God has given me?
• Spiritual Gifts – Am I using my gifts to make an impact and serve The Kingdom?
• Evangelism – Am I consistently sharing my faith with others?
• Discipleship – Am I helping others grow in their relationship with God?

Now, the point of these questions isn’t to tear down, nor puff up – but rather to help us truly look at where we are. We know that we will not be perfect this side of heaven, which means there is always room for growth and improvement; until Jesus returns or takes us home.

Using these questions as a guide can help us see which areas are “in the red” so we can prayerfully set a strategy for growing in them.

Prayer life inconsistent? Commit to praying the verse of the day each day. Unfaithful with giving? Find 1 cause you can give money and/or volunteer your time/expertise to. No dedicated time to simply worship God for who He is? Create a worship playlist to listen to throughout your day.

The Holy Spirit will lead you on where to focus and what you can do — just be sure to set aside the time to seek Him and to plan for your spiritual growth.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

(1 Corinthians 9: 24-27)