I join many other people in using today to consider the past year and thinking about the upcoming year. Last year was filled with the joy of two granddaughters and the fun of having an adult son living at home, in addition to the usual activities of going to work each day and caring for family. Each year, I resolve to become more focused on the Christian disciplines of prayer and Bible study. I will make that same resolution again and use this blog as a method of accountability and to share what I am learning.

What do I want to accomplish this the year?

To pray daily for my children and grandchildren. I have always had a very weak prayer life. It seems to be an afterthought or full of distractions. There never seems to be time to focus–my mind roams everywhere. This year I would like to start with a small amount of time each day to really focus on prayer for my family and prayer for me to become closer to Jesus. As I read this, it seems to be a very selfish prayer request when there are so many needs in the world but I feel like I need to get the “Jerusalem” aspect of prayer underway before I venture to Judea and Samaria.

To read the Bible not just to acquire knowledge but to delight in the Lord. Too often I approach Bible study as another course to accomplish and to make an “A” rather than wanting to hear from the living God of the universe. This year I want to slow down when I read and to meditate on the scriptures. I will share my thoughts as I read on the blog.

There are many other things that I need to work on–exercising more, losing weight, being kinder to others, working on developing friendships but for now I think I will focus on prayer and the Bible. If I can be diligent about those two things, then many of the other things in my life will fall in place.  I know that prayer and the Bible can change lives and I trust the Lord to use those disciplines to transform my mind and my actions. Be thou my vision oh Lord of my heart…

“Send forth your light and your truth, let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.” Psalm 43:3-4