Hey there, 2017! I welcome this new year with a lot of joy and anticipation. Have you spent time dreaming and planning for your year? I took a few weeks off from my regular work schedule, and enjoyed space to reflect on this past and coming year. As I think about this year, here are some of my goals and dreams:
In my reflections, I used a few questions to help me process and explore my goals and dreams. My guess is that those questions might be helpful to you. Feel free to use them as you reflect, journal, and pray. 1. What is your big goal or dream for this year? What big thing do you want to accomplish or achieve this year? What dream fuels passion and hope in you? Is there a project or transformation you want to bring to fruition this year? 2. If you had no limits or fears, what do you want to give yourself permission to do, explore, or make space for this year? There may be things you deeply want, but haven't yet given yourself permission to do. Honor yourself by giving yourself permission to live the life you want to live! Imagine a life without limits. What do you most deeply want to do this year? 3. What is God's invitation to you this year? Make space to listen to God as you think about this year. What are his hopes and intentions for you? Is there an invitation or promise he is giving you? Allow yourself the space to pay attention to the Spirit's voice and guidance. 4. How do you want to show up this year? What attitude and heart-qualities do you want as you enter into this year? Do you want to be compassionate, loving, brave, peace-filled, intentional, focused? You alone get to choose how you will enter today, this week, and this year. Decide how you want to show up. 5. What do you want more of this year? What do you want less of this year? What is life-giving to you? What activities, people, and things fuel your joy? What is life-draining? What things do you want to let go of and say goodbye to? 6. How do you want to live out your God-given purpose this year? You have a unique, God-given purpose. How do you want to live that out this year? What daily, weekly, and monthly habits will make the space you need to live out your purpose? I hope this exercise helps you pursue and live out your dreams and purpose for the new year. Let's focus on the most essential things, intentionally show up, and give make space for whatever God has for you this year. I pray that you would receive all that God has for you, and that you would live out your God-given calling in 2017. If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts: 10 Spiritual Growth Resources to Launch Into the New Year 10 Practical Ideas For Your Spiritual Growth How to Create Space to Listen to the Voice of God Want guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey delivered to your inbox?
Sign up for my email newsletter Notes From Larissa. As we near the end of 2016, many of us are looking ahead to the new year. You may be planning, setting goals, or considering your New Year's Resolutions. As you think about the upcoming year, I encourage you to welcome God into that process. Consider what he is inviting you into for this upcoming year. How are you making space for your spiritual growth? What resources or rhythms do you need in order thrive with God? Take some time to listen to God and your soul as you look ahead to 2017. Here are 10 resources that can help you launch into a great new year and thrive with God. 1. The Wheel of Life. The Wheel of Life is a tool that helps you reflect on your current life, and identify changes you want to make in order to thrive. Click here for a tutorial and free Wheel of Life worksheet packet. 2. Read a book that will ignite your spiritual growth. A great book has the power to influence our spiritual trajectory, and lead us into new insights and encounters with God. Here is a list of 10 Great Books to Ignite Your Spiritual Growth - I highly recommend every one of these books. 3. Go on a spiritual retreat. Taking an extended time of silence and solitude with God can be an incredible place of spiritual nourishment and renewal. Here is a simple step-by-step Guide to Taking a Spiritual Retreat. Spiritual retreats take a bit of planning, but they are totally worth the investment of time and energy. I try to take 1 or 2 spiritual retreats every year, and they have become foundational in my relationship with God. 4. Join the Spiritual Journeyers Facebook Group. I host and lead this group, and it is a great place to receive guidance and connection for your faith journey. People can freely participate in the group discussions, and we often share our struggles, breakthroughs, and prayer requests with each other. Click here to join the Spiritual Journeyers FB group. 5. Meet with a spiritual director. My monthly conversations with a spiritual director are a vital place for my own spiritual growth. She and I pray together, talk about what God is doing in my life, and discern together how to respond to God. If you are looking for a spiritual director, I'd love to meet with you. You can read about the spiritual direction services I offer here. I currently have the availablity for a handful of new clients. 6. Create a new Rhythm For Life. A rhythm for life is a simple statement of personal habits that you choose to practice to intentionally make space for God's presence and voice. The new year is a great time to reassess your current spiritual rhythms. Ask God to give you a few practices and habits to make space for him. 7. Join the Journeyers Collective. The Collective is my monthly membership program that invites you into regular spiritual direction with me in a group setting, a private Facebook group, and a members-only library of resources for your spiritual growth. Membership costs $18/mo or $118/yr. You can find out more about the Journeyers Collective here. 8. Put the essential things first. You alone have the power to choose how you spend your life. Make sure you are doing what is essential to who God has called you to be. As you think about your typical day or week, how can you block out the time and space for what is most important? For more on this, read Why You Need to Master the Art of Saying No to the Nonessentials. 9. Intentionally make time to do life-giving things. What activities fuel your joy, creativity, and life? Make a list of those things. We often don't give ourselves permission to do these things. For the sake of your soul, create time and space this year to do the things that give you life. Some life-giving things for me are writing, date nights with my husband, weekly exercise, and reading good books. What's on your list? 10. Subscribe to my Notes email newsletter. I send out a email with practical tools and guidance for your spiritual journey. Think of it as your spiritual director popping into your inbox to say hi and give you permission for your soul to breathe. Want to receive these emails from me? Sign up here. What action steps are you taking as you plan and vision for 2017? What do you need to help you thrive with God this coming year? Please share in the comments. If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts: 10 Practical Ideas For Your Spiritual Growth How a Spiritual Director Can Help Your Spiritual Growth How to Create Space to Listen to the Voice of God Want guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey delivered to your inbox?
Sign up for my email newsletter Notes From Larissa. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5 What would happen in your life if you spent every day connecting with God for 30 days in a row? How might God change you, your relationships, your purposes, your surroundings? So much of the spiritual journey is pressing forward, moving through barriers, and taking next steps of growth. Jesus gives us the invitation to "abide in him, and he in us." It is an invitation into a life of intimacy and unity with Christ. It is a life of making our home in Christ, and dwelling in him, while he does the same in us. Do you want the abiding life with Christ? I believe that the abiding life first begins with us asking ourselves the question, "Do I want the abiding life with Christ?" In other words, do you desire the relationship and lifestyle he proposes? Take a moment, and be honest with yourself. Do you want the abiding life with Christ? Is that the ultimate vision you have for your life? I want the abiding life. Where do I begin? If you want the abiding life, then you simply start from where you are. Jesus always called people to follow him from where they were standing. So how is he calling you to live? What action step is he inviting you to take in order to follow him? You may have an immediate answer. There may be an action that you know that you need to take right now. If you don't know, ask God. Take a moment right now. Ask him, "God, what next step with you are you inviting me to take?" Sit quietly in his presence, and wait on him to respond to you. Join us for 30 Days of Abiding If you want to take a step further in abiding in Jesus, I invite you to participate in 30 Days of Abiding in November. For 30 days, beginning on November 1st, I am committed to 30 Days of Abiding. A group of us did 30 Days of Abiding in July 2016, and it was a powerful, growthful experience for many. So we're doing it again. Recently, I shared that God has been inviting me to cultivate the practice of gratitude. I will be putting that into practice through 30 days of practicing gratitude. I will be making space every day to practice gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal, as well meditating on Scripture that helps me to worship and thank God. If you want to join me and others in 30 Days of Abiding, check out 30 Days of Abiding for more details on how to participate. I hope you join us! What spiritual rhythm could you practice for 30 days? How do you think your life would change if you encountered God in a small way every single day? Please share in the comments. Want guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey delivered to your inbox?
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WELCOMEHi, I'm Larissa. I am an artist and spiritual director on the island of O'ahu in Hawai'i.
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