In recent weeks as my family has moved from one city to another, my daily routine has been thrown completely out of sorts. Thankfully, that period is ending and I’m finally able to reassert some positive order on my schedule, my morning routine and my daily priorities.

I’ve already written about questions I ask myself every day, but there’s more to my schedule than that. So let me detail some personal growth steps I’m committed to take in my daily and weekly routine. Perhaps there’s something here that resonates with you. If not, brainstorm some ideas of your own.

Some intentional daily habits I’m building include:

• Getting Up 1 Hour Earlier
• Spending Quality Time Alone with God
• Exercising My Body
• Setting Daily Goals
• Detailing a Weekly Eisenhower Matrix
• Reducing My Daily Calorie Intake
• Engaging Each Member of My Family in Meaningful Conversation
• Sharing My Faith Story with Others
• Learning Something New from Every Person I Meet

Beyond those habits, I’m working on some vertical and horizontal focus points.

On the vertical side, I’m praying that God will:

1. Fill Me (Control Me) with the Holy Spirit Each Day – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. – Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
2. Lead Me to Rest Fully in Him Each Day – I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5 (NIV)
3. Guide Me to Live Worthy of His Name Each Day – Live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. – Colossians 1:10 (NIV)

On the horizontal side, I’m asking God to help me:

1. Love Others Each Day – A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. – John 13:34 (NIV)
2. Value Others Each Day – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. – Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
3. Give Freely to Others Each Day – And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. – Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)

So what’s the Big Idea?

Build intentional daily habits with a personal growth plan and both vertical and horizontal focus points.

Resources

• Write It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser
• Goals! by Brian Tracy
• “12 Second Tier Practices that Produce First Rate Leaders” by Carey Nieuwhof
• “Make Decisions with the Eisenhower Matrix” on Big Ideas Blog
• “Shift Gears from Good to Great” on Big Ideas Blog
• “Ask the Right Questions” on Big Ideas Blog