Does God give you a verse or scripture passage each year as a focus for spiritual growth?

I’ve had this practice for many years. It has greatly helped my growth in Christ. I start in October asking Him to reveal the area of focus He has for me in the new year. It’s amazing how scripture jumps out to catch my attention and inspire my heart for growth, followed by a year of complimentary passages that instruct my heart in my focal area. And I cannot tell you the number of times that group Bible study materials I’m drawn to each year wind up giving insights on my areas of focus.

This past year was the best year to date. I see great progress in my focus on Philippians 2:1-8 and growing in “intentional selflessness“. That focus does not permit laziness in study or practice. 😂 It does not permit giving self to fear or selfish desires. I am made new through this focus that has made such strides in delivering me from self-focus and self-centeredness. It kept me from curling up in a ball from grief, doing nothing of significance, hiding from the world, and ignoring the needs of others.

The year my husband died (last quarter of 2022), my focus was Psalm 23 AMPC and “Be Intentional”. I am so grateful for how that focus made for a glorious last year with him and prepared me for his death, spurring me on after his death to get needful things done with intentional effort. Psalm 23, and many other focal passages from past years, still come to me as instruction for life’s challenges.

This coming year I am excited to get into Ephesians 5:15-17 and “walk circumspectly” (phrase from the NKJV).

If you have not developed this practice for deliberate focus in spiritual growth, I highly recommend it. Be sure to include memorizing the passage and keep a journal, so you can review your findings and insights as you read through the Word of God. Go forth and have a happy, inspired, spiritually prosperous 2024!