As I look back on 2024, I’ve tried to evaluate my life. Did I grow spiritually this past year? What’s the measuring stick for knowing if I grew spiritually? When I was a little girl, I would ask myself, “How do you grow spiritually?”  I couldn’t grasp it.  I didn’t understand.  It wasn’t until after I was married that I truly understood that growing spiritually came from the depth of my personal Bible study and prayer life.  Years ago,I began to journal my Bible reading.  I began a prayer journal.  From this effort I realized that my spiritual growth was shown by my depth of study.  My growth was on display for myself.  I began to understand that the former things that hindered me, didn’t hinder me any longer. Why?  Because I was growing!  So now, I ponder my daily intake, knowing that God is helping me every step of the way.   Sometimes I look at my journal and realize that I have slacked off in my quiet time with God due to how I journaled. It’s then that I ask forgiveness and get back on track.    

To begin this 2025 year, I am pondering my Life’s Verse: Psalm19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  This verse is my game plan for 2025.  My goal for this year is to live this verse as I go about my day-to-day routine.

1.     Dwell on things that will uplift me spiritually. Let the words of my mouth

I desire for the words of my mouth to be pleasing to the Lord. I am learning that I don’t need to say everything that I think.  There are no perfect people, and I have asked the Lord to remind me of that and help me to keep the wrong words from being said.  Philippians 4:8 tells me to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and virtuous.  With this list in mind there is no place for gossip and negativity.

2.    Examine my heart habits. And the meditation of my heart

What is in my heart will come out in my words and actions.  Why did Lot’s wife look back when she was told to flee the city of Sodom and not turn back?  It was her heart habits.   She loved Sodom and everything about it.  But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 We do what is in our heart. If I love God with all my heart, soul and mind, then my heart habits will be to please and honor Him!  (Matthew22:37,38)

3.    Desire for my words to be pleasing to God. Be acceptable in thy sight

The meaning of acceptable is capable or worthy of being accepted, pleasing to the receiver.  When God looks at my heart and hears my words,I desire for Him to be pleased and to accept the outpouring of my heart as a gift to Him.  I must ask myself daily,“Is what I’m saying and doing acceptable to God?”  If the answer is “no” then I must make immediate changes.  

4.    Remember that I am nothing without God. O LORD, my strength

I can’t do anything on my own.  My life is His.  I can only do what I do through Christ.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Philippians 4:13.  

5.    Live with eternity in mind every day. And my redeemer

Jesus saved me.  He took my place so that I wouldn’t have to die in my sin.  He deserves my all! Galatians2:20 reminds me that I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  

As 2025 begins, it is my heart’s desire to live out my life’s verse better than I ever have.  How well I live out these five goals will determine my spiritual growth.  I challenge you to choose a life’s verse this year if you don’t have one and live it out. If you have a life’s verse, examine it. Ask yourself along with me, “Am I living what I say I believe?”  

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