Everything that's living is growing. And everything that's growing is fed and watered. Healthy disciples take responsibility for their own spiritual growth by having a plan. Now is a great time to make a spiritual plan for the new year. Here are some helpful links to get you moving: Bible reading plans:

• From Zondervan: http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Bible/Plans.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan. I'm using the 3 year reading plan with the kids beginning on Friday. Love that it keeps going back to the Gospels as it takes you through the whole Bible.
• If you use YouVersion on your smart phone (which I HIGHLY recommend), it comes with a great 1 Year Bible reading plan built in.
• From NavPress: http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138

Guidance on making spiritual plans:

• http://jrvassar.posterous.com/planning-an-intentional-devotional-life-for-2

Help with memorizing Scripture:

• http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=57761&columnid=4184

And when you fast...

In Jesus' mountainous sermon he utters this simple phrase to introduce some brief teaching on the spiritual discipline of fasting. Speaking into an especially religious culture where fasting (abstaining from food for a set period of time) was regularly practiced among the spiritual "elite" he gives concrete direction about how to fast.

But what is easily missed is that short introductory phrase "and when you fast". By that simple phrase Jesus expresses fasting as a practice that his followers would engage in.

As a church we practice fasting both privately and together. Beginning on January 3rd we'll be fasting together for 21 days.

If you'd like to get your heart, mind and body ready for this fast, I'd encourage you to read a free pdf edition of John Piper's book A Hunger For God. I'm reading it (off my Blackberry) and its stirring my heart to be ready for the fast.