Halftime Adjustments
July is a good time to reflect, realign, and refocus.
July marks the halfway point of the year and provides us with a great opportunity to evaluate where we stand spiritually. The halfway point gives us a reference from which to gauge our progress while there is still enough time to make the necessary adjustments to get back on course.
Today, I want to suggest a few simple diagnostic questions you can ask yourself at this halfway point, along with some encouragement to help keep you moving along the path that draws you closer to Jesus. Take the time to consider these questions honestly, and ask God what adjustments He wants to make in your life.
Questions for a Halfway Evaluation
1. Am I closer to God than I was six months ago?
By “closer,” I mean: Am I more sensitive to His voice, more obedient to His Word, and more Christlike in my actions? Do I sense His presence and respond to life’s circumstances in a way that reflects the Holy Spirit guiding my emotions, thoughts, and actions?
If I am not closer to God, I must remember that He hasn’t moved—I must have drifted.
2. Is there a sin (or sins) I am allowing to continue unchecked in my life?
Often, the devil knows our vulnerabilities and launches an all-out assault on those areas of our lives. Sin spoils our appetite for the things of God, especially time in His Word and prayer. If I do not confess my sin to God and agree with Him that I have sinned, I create such spiritual static in my heart that I cannot clearly hear Him speak.
I need to keep short accounts with God regarding my sin. When I do sin, I need to stop, pray, confess it to God, and claim the forgiveness Christ has already secured for me through the cross. As I pray, I should also ask God to help me recognize temptation before it overtakes me and to give me the strength to avoid it.
3. Am I consistently making time to be in God’s Word?
Jesus taught us in John 15 that we can do nothing of spiritual value unless we abide in Him, allowing His Word to abide in us. Most Christians who admit they are struggling in their walk with the Lord also acknowledge they have become inconsistent in their Bible intake.
As I feed on God’s Word, it has the supernatural effect of transforming my heart, mind, and will. There is no substitute for regular time in Scripture. There is no path to spiritual growth apart from consistently feeding on God’s Word.
If I am not reading and meditating on God’s Word every day, I need to make it a priority by adjusting my schedule and habits so that I have meaningful time in the Bible each day.
4. Are my prayers routine and mechanical, or do I regularly enjoy a fresh, vibrant conversation with God?
One danger of scheduling a daily prayer time is that I can begin to see it as just another chore to check off my to-do list. It becomes all too easy to repeat familiar prayers and then walk away feeling satisfied simply because I prayed. Yet prayer can be far more intimate than that.
When I come before God, I need to engage not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. I want my prayer time to be more than a routine—I want it to be a genuine encounter with my heavenly Father. May I come to Him each day with a fresh heart and an expectant spirit.
5. How have I stretched and challenged my faith so far this year?
In James 2, James teaches us that simply claiming to have faith proves nothing. Genuine faith reveals itself through action. I can repeatedly say that I believe God and trust God, but those words remain empty until I find myself in situations where I cannot rely on myself and must depend completely on Him.
If all I ever do is what I have always done, I will never experience God in new ways. I need to step outside my comfort zone and areas of familiarity so that my faith is stretched, challenged, and strengthened.
For those who feel the second half of the year looks hopeless, let me leave you with one encouraging truth. Sometimes the distance between where you are and where you need to be can seem overwhelming. Don’t let the size of the journey keep you from taking the first step.
A Chinese philosopher famously wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Today, ask yourself this simple question: What one thing can I do today to move closer to Jesus?
Then do it.
Those small, faithful steps, taken day after day, often become the path God uses to help us finish well.