The first day of a new year is a good time to stop, reflect, refocus and consider where we are going. The question for today is not, "Where are you going?" but rather, "Where will you be when you get there?" This morning all of us are taking the first steps on a 365-day journey. Where will you be when you arrive at December 31? What will you do with the gift of a new beginning that God has given you? If you are married, I urge you to discuss these questions with your spouse. If you are in a small group, take your first session this year to go over these questions. Thinking through these questions together will help make 2010 truly life-changing for you.

    1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your

       enjoyment of God?

    2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask

        God to do this year?

    3. What's the single most important thing you could do to

        improve the quality of your family life this year?

    4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make

        progress this year, and what will you do about it?

    5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and

        what will you do about it this year?

    6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen

        your church?

    7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this

        year?

    8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace,

        try to make this year different from last year?

    9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life

        this year?

    10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will

          matter most in ten years? In eternity?

In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

    11. What's the most important decision you need to make

          this year?

    12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and

          what's one way you could simplify in that area?

    13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to

          meet this year?

    14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

    15. Who do you most want to encourage this year?

    16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and

          what is the most important step you can take toward

          achieving it?

    17. What's the single most important thing you could do to

          improve the quality of your work life this year?

    18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your

          pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

    19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the

          spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and

          grandchildren?

    20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want

          to read this year?

    21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and

          what will you do about it this year?

    22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek

          most earnestly this year?

    23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and

          what will you do about it this year?

    24. What's the most important trip you want to take this

          year?

    25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this

          year?

    26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an

          unprecedented amount this year?

    27. What's the single most important thing you could do to

          improve the quality of your commute this year?

    28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to

          understand better this year, and what will you do about

          it?

    29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of

          advice, what would they say? Would they be right?

          What will you do about it?

    30. What's the most important new item you want to buy

          this year?

    31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and

         what will you do about it this year?