35 Spiritual goal ideas
UPDATE 8 YEARS LATER: When I originally wrote this blog post, it sat on my blog without much interaction. Then it got picked up by Money Saving Mom and got pretty popular for a while. But through it all, it is still a list that has stood the test of time!
Since we’re heading into a brand new year, I thought I’d share some ideas for setting spiritual goals. Here are 35 ideas to get your wheels turning for setting your own goals for the year. I recommend only choosing 2-3 for the year and not overwhelming yourself (like I tend to do). You can always add more as you complete them!
35 Spiritual Goals for the new year
- Read a book of the Bible 50 times.
- Memorize scripture (I LOVE this blog post and she has printable cards!)
- Read good quality Christian books (there are so many resources available, but here’s one to start with).
- Attend church regularly.
- Listen to an online sermon weekly. (Anything here is well worth your time!)
- Serve regularly in your church.
- Pray daily (I have been more consistent than ever since setting up my prayer binder).
- Read through the entire Bible or New Testament. Again, there are so many options available in a quick online search. I really like these.)
- Do an in-depth topical study over a Biblical subject you’ve been wanting to learn more about.
- Write out every “I will” statement in the book of Psalms (I loved doing this!)
- Transcribe a book (or many!) of the Bible
- “Ruin” your Bible by reading through and writing a heading on each page.
- Participate in a weekly Bible study group.
- Start or continue a gratitude journal.
- Pick and memorize a life verse.
- Disciple or mentor a younger believer.
- Find someone to mentor or disciple you.
- Form a personal or family mission statement and verse to memorize.
- Read through and understand your church’s faith or doctrinal statement.
- Learn how to explain the gospel to an unbeliever. (I love this simple diagram and the verses it uses. Also, Bill Fay has an excellent book called Share Jesus Without Fear.
- Memorize some (or all!) of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
- Read through or memorize historic Christian creeds such as the Apostle’s Creed, Council of Chalcedon, and/or the Athanasian Creed.
- Read biographies of early church leaders.
- Study Church History or a period like the Great Awakening or Reformation
- Read through church martyrs.
- Support a child through a world outreach such as Compassion or Operation Christmas Child (collect your items through the year for multiple boxes!)
- Give to a local charity or a charity you care deeply about.
- Figure out your personal doctrine (a great book for this is The Deeper Life).
- Re-read a book that really encouraged and grew you in your earlier walk of faith. (My top one has changed over the years, but I’m pretty sure this one will be re-read many, many times over.)
- Start a Bible journal for your study and sermon notes. My free Bible Journal has been great for me, or this super organized one might be a good one to try too.
- Review previously memorized scripture regularly (This 3×5 method is easy and excellent or this digital one).
- Learn a new way of Bible study (Hermeneutics, Inductive study, meditation, etc).
- Join an online Bible study group.
- Write out all the verses that refer to a specific sin or spiritual weakness you struggle with.
- Write out and study character qualities you’d like to possess or improve.
If you’re new here, welcome to my little home on the web. Be sure to check out all my Bible study options to help you dig into God’s word!
