Back in college I had a professor who always liked to say, “if you plan for nothing, that is exactly what you’ll get.”  And I think it was from watching the A-Team that this theme was ingrained into my life:

What’s your plan for Spiritual Growth in the coming year? We plan for a lot of things, financial security, academic progress, athletic development; we even make long term plans for vacations. But how much time do we give in planning out time with the Lord? Is it “just what I can fit in” among the other million things that scream for our attention? Or do you have a plan to guide and shape your time with the Lord?

Do you wish you could have a better understanding of the Bible? Then make a plan to read the Scriptures regularly and meaningfully.

Do you struggle with deep questions of faith, wanting to know more about what we believe and why we believe it? Then identify those areas where you want to learn, and find book, conferences, even podcasts that will help you grow in knowledge and understanding. Pick up one of the Catechisms of the Church, or the Westminster Confession of Faith, and study it with your Bible open.

Is your prayer life anemic and frustrating? Then pray, and pray until you are really praying, and study the Scriptures, reading how others have prayed and how Jesus teaches us to pray.

I’m not suggeting that having a plan will garuantee success, but if you plan for nothing, that is exactly what you’ll get.

As you consider your plan for the coming year, here are some suggested devotions and reading plans that you might look into.

TableTalk Magazine

Tabletalk‘s daily Bible studies offer structure for your devotional life. Bringing the best in biblical scholarship together with down-to-earth writing, Tabletalk helps you understand the Bible and apply it to daily living. Each issue also contains challenging, stimulating articles on a wide variety of issues related to theology and Christian living, written by eminently trustworthy authors—names like Sinclair Ferguson, John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul.

Free copies are available in the Church Narthex each month, and personal subscriptions are only $23 per year.

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread is another daily a devotional calendar-style booklet.  The booklet is one of the most widely read Christian devotionals in circulation today.  The contents include a Bible passage, and a relevant article for each day of the year. It is written by a different author each day, and also features additional Bible passages for people following Our Daily Bread’s “Bible In One Year” reading program.

Our Daily Bread is available for free each month in the Church Narthex, and you may also subscribe for an printed, emailed, and mobile version online.

Bible Reading Plans

5x5x5 Plan This plan guides you through the New Testament with a 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week reading plan. Its great for those who havn’t had a regular devotion/reading practice and would like to get started.

5 Day Plan This Bible reading system allows you to read the entire Bible (or just the New Testament) in one year while only reading five times a week. Five readings a week gives room to catch up or take a needed day off, and makes daily Bible reading practical and do-able.

Daily Plan This plan has 4 readings a day, and will get you through then entire Bible in one year.

Email Devotionals

If you’re tired of all the junk email and would like to get something positive each day, try one of these:

Truth for Life Daily – The devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. The subscription is free, and you will recieve a daily email devotion.

My Utmost for His Highest – The classic devotional from Oswald Chambers can be sent to you daily for free, and can also be downloaded to your smartphone and tablet.