Set realistic goals that you can actually accomplish

Setting realistic goals is an important tool for success. It can be tempting to start aiming for grand objectives right away, but the best way to achieve your goals is to start small and work your way up. Focusing on attainable tasks will allow you to build momentum and increase motivation. Clearly define your goal, as well as what needs to be done in order for them to be achieved. This strategy makes any goal seem more realistic and easier to manage. 

How to make more time for Bible reading and praying

You probably already know that reading your Bible and praying are a crucial part of deepening your relationship with the Lord, but have you found yourself forgetting or running out of time at the end of the day for these important rituals? One of the best ways to make time for Bible reading and prayer is to simply block off time on your calendar for it. Take an honest look at your existing schedule and make a commitment to fit these two activities in. Once you make that decision, it’s important to be willing to sacrifice other activities – sometimes that means cutting back on TV or waking up a little earlier- but it can make a huge difference in your ability to spend meaningful amounts of time diving deeper into the Word and speaking with God. 

The lasting impact of strengthening your relationship with Jesus

Building a relationship with Jesus is incredibly transformative. Understanding His teachings and letting the living Word transform your heart and thoughts will have an impact on every part of your life. If you’ve lost the joy of your faith, or are struggling with fear or bondage of some kind, drawing close to Jesus. Find a small group or Bible study to join to have brothers and sisters in Christ to walk this road with. There’s no better goal or resolution than to grow closer to God!

Stick to your plan and don’t give up

Sticking to your plan requires focus, resilience, and most of all God’s help. Throughout this process, it’s important to not give up when challenges come up- and they will. Maybe people in your life will be offended or annoyed by your renewed devotion, or maybe you’ll find the draw of distractions stronger than before. Whatever happens, rather than abandoning the plan altogether, take the time to reassess why something might not be working. Use this as an opportunity to rethink the approach that you are taking. Set yourself up for spiritual success by making changes in your schedule when you have to and be tenacious with your quiet time!

Celebrate your accomplishments at the end of the year

As the end of the year approaches, it is important to reflect on your accomplishments and celebrate your wins. Whether big or small, taking time to acknowledge the progress you made throughout the year can be incredibly empowering and motivating for new goals. One way to do this is writing a letter to yourself listing the ways you’ve grown or what you’ve learned. Celebrating individual triumphs reminds us that our growth is valuable and worthwhile.

Here’s to a Happy New Year, and walking closer with God than ever before! 

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In this blog, we’re going to explain how to become debt free using Dave Ramsey’s “Debt Snowball” method. At the end, you’ll find links to all the resources you’ll need to be debt free! 

Note: if you are not yet on a budget, use this link to download a free guide to budgeting from Dave Ramsey’s website. Getting yourself on a budget is the first step to financial freedom!

Getting Started

The idea of the debt snowball is that you start off with a small little snowball (a payment), roll it downhill (your list of debts), and the further it rolls, the bigger it gets (paying off larger and larger amounts as you go. (Momentum!)

The very first step is saving a $1000 emergency fund. This is to help prevent you from taking on any new debt in the case of emergencies (example: car trouble). Any extra money in your budget will go towards the debt snowball. 

Debt Snowball

You will start by listing each debt in the order of smallest to largest. Next to each debt (except the first), list the minimum payment. Next to the first debt on the list, write how much you can pay on it this month. For example, if after you do your budget (and after your $1000 emergency fund is saved) you have $100 left, you put that towards your first debt. You continue paying as much as you can until that debt is paid off, continuing to pay the minimum payments on the other debts. Once debt #1 is scratched off the list, you move to the second debt paying the minimum + the amount you were paying toward the first debt. See how as you go down the list, the amount you’re paying each month toward the next debt grows and grows? That’s the debt snowball, and you’ll be shocked to see how fast you can start paying off debt when you’re focused and determined.

Resources

Dave Ramsey’s website (link below) is chock full of helpful resources and I’ve linked to a couple of my favorites. Listening to his radio show or podcasts is especially encouraging and helpful, since he takes callers and helps them through places they’re stuck or celebrates their wins with them. You’ll be planning your “I’M DEBT FREE!!!!!!” call!!!

• https://www.daveramsey.com/
• https://www.daveramsey.com/store/product/the-total-money-makeover-book-by-dave-ramsey
• https://www.daveramsey.com/store/product/deluxe-envelope-system
• https://www.daveramsey.com/store/product/the-contentment-journal

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“We wholeheartedly believe a daily rhythm of seeking intimacy with God has the power to transform lives. That’s why YouVersion creates biblically centered, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout each day. It’s through these experiences we create opportunities fit for anyone’s daily routine, ultimately helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God intimately.”

There are so many options for studies. You can find plans by your favorite teachers or search through the recommended and featured plans. You can find options that are shorter or longer, deeper or more devotional type, subject-based or Scripture only. There is a “Search By Emotion” feature that helps you find what you need in God’s Word when you don’t know where to turn. There are even video-based studies if that’s more up your alley. 

There are many features on the app to enhance your Bible reading and studying experience. One of my favorites is the Verse of the Day. Many times I find that single verse encourages me to study deeper or nudges me to spend time in the Word. You can sign up to have the verse sent straight to your phone, and you can create an image post for social media to share what you’re learning with your online friends. In fact, you can invite friends to go through studies with you, and there’s even a function where you can discuss what you’re reading right there on the app. This is a great feature, especially right now when so many in-person Bible studies are cancelled or postponed. 

As you’re reading through Scripture, YouVersion has many tools to help you. You can highlight, add a prayer, bookmark, or note to specific verses, see related videos, switch the version (or compare versions) with a click of a button, change the text size, hear the text in audio form, share the verse to social media in text or image form, or copy a section to add into a note or text message. Another especially useful tool is the Reminder option, which allows you to set a time to be reminded to read your Bible.

5 Reading Plans To Try

1. Walking With Others Through Life’s Valleys by Jim Daly
   A 7-Day plan exploring how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people around you. 

2. New Year, New Mercies by Paul Tripp
   A 15-Day Devotional about God’s grace to us, and learning to trust and rely on Him when feel-good aphorisms aren’t enough. 

3. Truth For Dark Days by Alistair Begg
   A 7-Day plan that reminds us of the hope we have in God’s goodness and sovereignty. 

4. Why Suffering? By Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale
   For a more in-depth study, this 24-Day plan based on the book by the same name is a great option that dives into the questions “why is there suffering?” and “how do we face pain?”

5. The Power of a Simple Prayer by Max Lucado
   A powerful 5-Day plan to help us pray effectively and consistently. 

We’re so blessed to have this kind of access to God’s Word, anytime and anyplace. It’s imperative we don’t take it for granted or forget that there are people in the world who can’t get the Word, or aren’t allowed to have it. 

If you use any of these reading plans or have others you’d like to share, let us know below! May your new year be blessed and Bible-centered! 

The post 5 YouVersion Reading Plans To Try In The New Year appeared first on 93.7 The Light.