At the end of a year, wise people will stop and evaluate the previous year, and see how they can improve themselves over the next 12 months. Well, the last page of this last year is soon to be written, and the first page of the next is almost ready to be turned.
Before you turn the page on a new year, here are 3 super simple, yet easily overlooked things to check to evaluate your 2016. I hope you’ll take this challenge, and check these 3 things, even today.
1. Your FACEBOOK
If you’re reading this blog post, chances are pretty high that you have a Facebook account, and that you even use it quite frequently.
Here’s the challenge… Go to your profile page and take 30 minutes to scroll through your entire 2015 year’s posts. Look at the type of things you posted about the most and ask yourself some questions:
- Are the majority of my posts positive or negative?
- Did I post anything in the heat of the moment that looking back, I regret now?
- Did I tear anyone down, build anyone up, or exalt God through my posts?
- Did I post about anything spiritual, encouraging, or helpful?
- If I were someone else, would I want to follow me and get my posts in my news feed every day?
- What do my last year’s posts reveal about my priorities and life perspective?
2. Your CHECKBOOK
Jesus said that “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Look at your checkbook log over the last year (yes, please tell me that you have one 🙂 ) It reveals not only where you’re investing, but more importantly, it’s a good indicator of where your heart is.
Grab your checkbook, and here’s the challenge as you look through it… Ask yourself these questions:
- If someone else were looking at my checking log, could they easily see that God and His Church were given first priority in my giving?
- Apart from my giving to God, can I find any other expenses that were used for the benefit of others outside of my family?
- Approximately what dollar amount did I spend each month on personal convenience, pampering, and entertainment?
- Looking at the previous year’s log, where do I feel I need to adjust my spending habits or my priorities?
3. Your copy of GOD’S BOOK
While we’re checking the “books” that play an important role in our year to year life, let’s not forget about the most important book of all – God’s Word.
Here’s the challenge… Pick up your Bible right now, open it up, and answer these questions as you flip through it’s pages:
- Is your Bible any different at the end of this year than it was as the beginning?
- Are there any more highlights, notes written in the margins, or wear and tear from usage?
- Did you read it more or less than the previous year? Did you read it daily?
- At the end of another year, do you know more about your Bible than you do about the latest TV series you watched or the latest gossip on FB?
Someone once wisely said, “A Bible that’s falling apart belongs to a Christian who isn’t.”
Unfortunately, if we were to put all three of the above “books” into printed form, I have a feeling that the first two in the list might show significantly more wear and tear than the last. Sad, but true.
Will 2017 be any different? Well, Now is the time to decide!
Let’s get ready to write the first page of 2016 with things like building up others, investing our treasures into what really matters, and spending more of our time in the only Book that has the power to change our lives!
