Cultivate.

New years resolutions never really work for me. They last for a week (if I'm lucky) and soon enough fade away because "there's just so many more important things to focus on". In hopes for breaking this horrible habit of failed resolutions, for the last three years I have been trying something a little different. I stumbled upon a website called My One Word. The point is basically to choose one word to inspire you and focus on for the upcoming year. I absolutely love it! It's something fun to do at the beginning of the year and has really helped me evaluate what I need to work on in the upcoming year.

This year, my word is Cultivate: to prepare or promote the growth and development of. This idea came to me from a Matt Chandler sermon. He was speaking about how so often we seek all kinds of things and put our hope in fleeting things, when we really should be putting our hope in God and and growing in Him. He said "Cultivate your mind. Cultivate your soul. And put your hope in Christ."  I really love that idea, and even though it is so basic, it is something we forget too often. 2 peter 3:18 says this: "But grow in the grace of knowledge of our Lord." This year I want to really focus on cultivating a healthy relationship with Christ and the people who I am surrounded by.

As I was reading a blog by Matt Chandler today, I came across two questions that I think would be beneficial for anyone who is wanting to grow in their relationship with Christ. The first is "what stirs my affections for christ?" What for me creates a passion or hunger for Christ and His mission? For me it is:
1. Starting my day with coffee and a quiet time with God.
2. Listening to anything by Hillsong or Bethel church.
3. The book of 1 Corinthians
4. Sermons and writings from Matt Chandler
5. Experiencing God devotional
6. Being surrounded by loving friends & family 

And the second, "what robs my affection for Christ?" What creates in me an unhealthy love for this world? It doesn't mean they are inherently bad things, it just means they are robbing my zeal for Christ. For me, these things are:
1. Staying up late for no reason.
2. Spending too much time on social networks ( Facebook, pinterest...etc.)
3. Watching too much tv.
4. Laziness.
5. Procrastination.

For me, asking myself these questions is a heart check. It helps me see where my heart posture is, and where it needs to be. So how about you? What is, stirring your affections for Christ? And what is robbing your affections for Christ?