Prepare Yourself for the New Year

Happy New Year!

As we enter another new year, I invite you to take a moment and answer a few questions about your spiritual progress. Nobody will know your answers but you. After reflecting on your answers, I invite you to make a plan for progress in the new year. There is no ‘staying the same’ in our spiritual life. We are either growing or dying. We should all strive to grow in Christ! I’ll give you a hint…….we strive for option 1 in every question.

1. I read the Bible
   1. Daily
   2. 3x per week
   3. 1x per week
   4. 1x per month
   5. It’s been a while since I read the Bible
2. I fast at least from meat
   1. Wednesdays and Fridays and every day the Church teaches to fast
   2. Only Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year
   3. Only Wednesdays and Fridays during each of the Lenten Periods
   4. Only Wednesdays and Fridays during Great Lent
   5. It’s been a while since I fasted
3. I say my prayers
   1. Morning and evening every day
   2. Morning and evening when I remember
   3. When I get a chance or when something is bothering me
   4. When I or a member of my family is in crisis
   5. It’s been a while since I said my prayers
4. I receive Holy Communion
   1. Every Sunday and on other Religious Holidays
   2. 2x per month
   3. 1x per month
   4. 3x per year
   5. It’s been a while since I received Holy Communion
5. I attend Holy Confession
   1. 4x per year
   2. 2x per year
   3. 1x per year
   4. When my conscience is really bothering me
   5. It’s been a while since my last confession
6. I attend Divine Liturgy
   1. At least every Sunday
   2. 2x per month
   3. 1x per month
   4. 4x per year
   5. It’s been a while since I attended Divine Liturgy
7. I have attended Church services OTHER THAN Sunday Liturgy (besides Holy Week)
   1. More than 10x in the last year
   2. 5x – 9x in the last year
   3. 2x in the past year
   4. 1x in the past year
   5. It’s been a while since I attended any additional services
8. When it comes to my family calendar…
   1. I always consider the Church calendar to avoid conflicts
   2. I try to consider the Church calendar to avoid conflicts
   3. I look at the Church calendar in the Sunday bulletin and discover a conflict
   4. The Priest tells me he missed me and I discover there was a conflict
   5. I didn’t know the Church published a calendar
9. When it comes to our family finances….
   1. We have a goal to tithe our income to the Church as thanksgiving to God
   2. We try to increase our giving each year because we know the Church has expenses
   3. We give our fair share of the Church budget
   4. We give what we think is appropriate considering our personal finances
   5. We give when we have funds to spare
10. Please check the following list that reflect you (check all that apply)
    1. We have a dedicated prayer corner in our home
    2. I say my personal prayers where my children can see me
    3. I teach my children how to say their personal prayers each night
    4. I often miss Divine Liturgy for reasons other than being sick
    5. I think it is important for my children to learn the Orthodox Christian Faith
    6. I take time during each week to discuss the Faith with my children
    7. I read the articles and letters in the Sunday Bulletins regularly
    8. I subscribe to the Church email distribution list
    9. I am a fan of the Cathedral “Facebook Page and other social media
    10. I visit other Orthodox Christian websites for spiritual inspiration
    11. I visit other Christian websites for spiritual inspiration
    12. I visit other non-Christian websites for encouragement and guidance
    13. I think the Greek Orthodox Church has information and guidance that can help me in my personal life
    14. I feel a bit guilty answering these questions
    15. I feel judged answering these questions
    16. I don’t think the Church should bother to ask me these questions

Now that you have evaluated yourself, I invite you to challenge yourself. Make this new year, a year dedicated to spiritual growth rather than social or economic growth. Stive to improve ‘one notch’ in every category of prayer, fasting, attending Church etc.

If we find ourselves a year from now with the same answers, we will have made zero progress. We may even take a few steps backwards, but at least we will have tried to grow. That is all I can ask of you. Do your best to grow in faith.