12 BEST THINGS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN 2018

Today is part 3 of our healthy check-up! Not a physical check-up but a Spiritual one! We take care of our bodies and make all kinds of resolution to be healthier, so don’t you think we should also work on things that make our Spiritual life healthy too? Today we are finishing up our series 12  BEST THINGS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN 2018. And these ARE life changing!!!!! So let’s get started…

If you have not read parts 1 and 2 you can read them HERE and HERE.

Number 9 is one of my favorites…

TALK TO GOD ALL DAY LONG

I think many of us miss the opportunity to talk to God all day long. Try to make God a part of your day-to-day life. You will be amazed at how you can see our Father in your every day!

Start by greeting Him in the morning and end the day by saying “I love you”! And fill all the space of your day with conversation. Driving is a fabulous time to talk to God.

Bobby often thinks I am talking to myself but I’m really in deep conversation with Abba!

And get real! God knows what you are thinking anyway. But remember He is your Father and God and deserves respect.

USE YOUR SPIRITUAL AND NATURAL GIFTS FOR THE KINGDOM

When we accept the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers us we get so much more than we are probably aware of at that time. One of the great things we are given along with salvation is Spiritual gifts. Every person on the face of this earth has natural talents and every true Christian has at least one Spiritual gift.

God tells us that we are all to use our Spiritual gifts. They are to glorify Him and to edify and help His church. But really they help a much wider sphere of influence!

These gifts are NOT to lay dormant within us. We need to seek them out and hone them and develop them and USE them!

Just think if every person would use their Spiritual gifts! I bet the churches could not hold all the people coming in to learn more about this amazing God who pours out His spirit and gifts on His beloved!!!! And can you imagine the impact on the world we would have?

Use all your gifts, natural and Spiritual to show the world a true representation of God and use them not to lift yourself up but to lift up others.

You can read about Spiritual Gifts  HERE.

MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE

I was not raised in a home that memorized scripture. So when I became a Christian at the age of 33 it was a very foreign thing to me. I did, however, raise my children memorizing scripture.

The first verse I memorized was…

LIKE A DEER PANTS AFTER WATER SO MY SOUL PANTS AFTER THEE O LORD. Psalm 42:1

This verse put into words just how I feel. I was dry and thirsty, so so spiritually thirsty! And it was only God who fulfilled me!

Every week I put a memorization verse at the bottom of my posts to encourage us to hide or treasure God’s word in our inner self.

YOUR WORD I HAVE TREASURED IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.  Psalm 119:11

In the Old Testament God often says, “Hear, O Israel…” I love the word hear!

It’s shama (sh-maw’). It is such a beautiful word! 

The word “hear” in Hebrew carries with it the meaning of “hear and then do what I say”! This is so important.

My southern Daddy used to say, “Do you hear me chil (the i is long)?”  And he was not asking about the quality of my hearing! He wanted action!!!!!

  James 1:22 says…

Be doers of the word and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourself. 

We not only need to hear God’s word but DO IT! And how can we know and do what God wants if we do not treasure and hide God’s word in our hearts?

Just like praying and talking to God and other Spiritually healthy things for you and me, memorizing scripture is a discipline.

But when we see the importance of memorizing God’s word to do it I think it takes on a beautiful urgency!

FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS

God’s word has a lot to say about Christians doing life together.

Yes, we should also spend time with and love others who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior yet, but if we don’t have deep and real and life-together relationships with other strong, committed Christians we suffer great loss.

We need fellow believers in our lives to keep us on track, love us unconditionally, press us deeper into a relationship with Jesus and keep us accountable. And very practically, to help us when we need it.

Like iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

I love the idea of doing life with other Christians. We will spend eternity together. It is wonderful when it can begin here on earth.

God tells us to make sure other mature believers are an important part of our lives! Especially as we see the Lord’s coming ever sooner!

Not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25

There it is! My top 12 Spiritually healthy habits to develop in 2018.

  • GO TO CHURCH
  • STUDY YOUR BIBLE
  • JOIN A BIBLE STUDY
  • PRAY
  • PRAY FOR REVIVAL
  • GIVE
  • START YOUR DAY WITH GOD
  • END YOUR DAY WITH GOD
  • TALK TO GOD ALL DAY LONG
  • USE YOUR SPIRITUAL (AND NATURAL) GIFTS FOR THE KINGDOM
  • MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
  • FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS

Don’t be overwhelmed. These disciplines take a lifetime. Start now and see what a difference they will make in your life, the life of others and especially the relationship with your Abba Father!

I pray, for you and for me, that 2020 will be the best Spiritually healthy year yet!!!!

This week’s verse to think about…

Be doers of the word and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourself.  James 1:22

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28 Comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    Thank you; I needed that.

  2. Thank you Yvonne for your beautiful words every Sunday.

  3. Thank you for being a light in the darkness.

  4. As always, Yvonne, you have shared another beautiful Sunday post! My goal this new year is to work on my Spiritual life and you have provided a great list for me to use as I progress! Thank you!!

  5. Great encouragement, thanks!!

  6. What a beautiful message of love and joy! Thank you for being shiny and bright!

  7. This is excellent! Outstanding disciplines to check my spiritual health. I really enjoy your spiritual encouragement. ?

  8. Sharron Skipper says:

    Wow! When I subscribed to your blog I had no idea that I would be so blessed! Thank you for sharing your faith in such a beautiful and simplistic way ,allowing God to use you for His kingdom.

  9. Yvonne, I love your Sunday posts! This was an excellent one today. Each of your 12 items was spot-on. As I age, I realize the need for constant communion with God is growing stronger. May our faith and ability to trust our Lord strengthen in this new year!

  10. Norma Rolader says:

    Oh my thank you Yvonne how inspirational!! Most of this message I needed today really a lot of spiritual blessings in the words spoken

  11. Amanda Jenkins says:

    Yvonne, thank you for posting this wonderful encouragement! You are a blessing to me. God is such a sweet and Holy Father, and His love shines through in your posts. May He continue to bless you as you serve Him through your beautiful blog.

  12. Yvonne,
    The moment I found your blog I thought it was (and still is) the best thing a girl could have and learn from! I am amazed at your creativity and talent, and most of all your boldness, your love for God..and our Savior.
    I am so glad we have the freedom of speech to say what we want on social media and you are inspiring and changing lives as we speak and you may not even realize it. But, you will when we are in Heaven and people you’ve influenced walk up to you and say “thank you”. Not only do you have a positive and beautiful way of living, you share it with others and are changing the way we live. I wish the best for you, your family and Stonegable in the new year of 2018!

  13. I’ve never been one to miss church my entire life but here I am. Yet God opens doors for fellowship. And Bible Study. How wonderful to read your blog. To share our love of God and how well rounded your feed is too. Thank you for being you.

  14. Lois Johnson says:

    I loved reading your article. It is just what I need to give me a guideline to follow in order to makes changes in my life & have a closer relationship with the Lord.

  15. Thanks Yvonne for these wonderful tips! Even though as a Christian I know them, it is awesome to be reminded and to make a mental note to try to follow them! Blessings to you and yours.

  16. JoAnn McM says:

    Yvonne, these tips were very meaningful to me and flow with our Pastor’s upcoming message for this week. Would you mind if I shared your list with him for us to share with our congregation? On any handout we will note you as the author of the list.

  17. This is so, so true. This is also so beautifully written. Every morning when I get up I say “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

  18. What a good Spiritually way to start the year! I enjoy and look forward to your Sunday blog.

  19. I love your 2018 Spiritual list. We all need to do this. I know this, as for my family and I we need to give our Savor more of our time/life.

  20. I love your scripture post. So much pain in my heart after loosing my sweet brother and I need your words of encouragement so badly. They are very benificial to me right I have always loved your blog but these particular ones are very meaningful to me thank you for them

  21. Thank you for posting the Liberty University Commencement by Bruce Wilkinson. It has opened my eyes. God bless all. ❤️ Rhonda Richardson

  22. Oh my, Yvonne. To think that there is someone so close in spirit to me. So many of your thoughts are mine as well. To see your words written down, shared with so many. Each year I spend time thinking about my plan for the coming year, trying to hone in on what will help me through the coming year. Reading your three posts has helped me in my preparation. I especially like your guidance about how we often feel that we did not get something out of going to Church. I am ashamed to say that I have been guilty of this.
    But your explanation has given me a new way of looking at things. But where we are so alike is in our praying all day long. For me it is a constant communion with God. I am speaking to Him constantly knowing that he is aware of all my thoughts and so many of my shortcomings as I make my way through each trying thing. I often say that God must be wearing ear muffs- trying to block out my annoying voice.
    Your decorating is wonderful to look at, Yvonne, but it is really a special vehicle for you to reach so many people and share your love of God, but especially God’s love for all of us. You are truly using the gifts God has given you.

  23. Hello, again. You are able to help me pray even at times that it seems “impossible mission” for me. We have to open our hearts to Him and just let Him talk. I sometimes even tell Him off! Ha ha ha!

    This passage has been copied and pasted from “The Way”, by José María Escrivá de Balaguer:

    “You have told me sometimes that you are like a clock out of order, which strikes at the wrong moment: you feel cold, dry and arid at the time of your prayer, and on the other hand, when it is least to be expected, in the street, in the midst of your daily activities, in the bustle and hubbub of the city, or in the concentrated calm of your professional work, you find yourself praying… At the wrong moment? Possibly; but don’t waste those chimes of your clock. The Spirit breathes where he will”

    I wish you and your family and these wonderful women here an amazing and very joyful week!,
    Charo

  24. Theresa Kleinschmidt says:

    I have needed a boost the last couple of weeks. My dear friend whom I have known for for close to forty years is now having major health issues and she will soon be going to Assist Living facility near by. I pray everyday and night that the dear Lord will take her in his arms and take care of her . She has been my second Mom. Thanks Yvonne for the spiritual inspiration, I desperately needed your post today and hope this will get me through the new year.

  25. What a meaningful list of ‘resolutions ‘ for the new year- and everyday moving forward. I have loved reading these- thank you for sharing.