Setting biblical & spiritual goals

The message tonight at midweek service struck a chord for me.  I realized that as a natural goal setter, I hadn't set any goals for my spirituality.  Sure I was involved with the church and different ministries, and I'm always looking for new ways to serve.  And we have our discipleship time with Joel and Beth with the goals of becoming closer to God, as individuals and as couples.  Our discipleship partners check in on us and hold us accountable when it comes to staying strong with our faith.

But I wasn't personally doing anything to set goals for myself, for my family, or for my spiritual future.  The message tonight focused on a few key questions:

1.  What do I want to be when I grow up [as a disciple/christian/leader/teacher etc.]?

2.  What do I need to do NOW to make that happen?

The first thing that I thought of was how much I look up to 4 specific women in our church.  They are all strong, Godly women who have put God first in their lives and have outwardly shown me what it means to prioritize.  But even though I look up to these women, I wasn't following their example.  I would get advice from one, and she would quote scripture.  I would go to another when I was feeling down or anxious, and she would quote scripture.  I would ask another how I can be more like her, and she would quote scripture.  

There seems to be a common denominator here...  the WORD.  I need to just plain read my Bible.  I need to read it and take notes and re-read my notes.  I need to live the Word and practice the Word and share the Word.  I need to be able to turn to the Word, and know where to turn, when I, or another sister, needs encouragement or strength or love.  Without the Word, as a disciple in a church that lives by the Word, I can't meet my goals of becoming more like these Godly women that I look up to.

So my goal is this:  I'm going to read my Bible everyday for the next 365 days.  I've never read cover to cover, so I'm starting with Genesis and buzzing straight through to Revelations.  No ifs, ands or buts about it.  No excuses, no "I'm too busy" or "I'll read extra tomorrow".  I'm going to take notes and I'm going to blog about it and I'm going to act on opportunities to share what I've learned.  I'm hoping to encourage my fellow sisters to follow my blog too.  If I know others are keeping me accountable, sitting eagerly by their laptops or smartphones or tablets, waiting for that blessed email saying I have a new blog for them to read, I will stick to my goal.

I better get to it...