Abiding Notes #7 - On Creating a Personal Curriculum

An honest (and anxious) peek into how I’m learning to grow intentionally in my faith—and an invitation to do the same.

Abiding Notes is a simple collection of reflections and moments from the week—snapshots of life and faith in the middle of full days. My hope is that these small notes encourage you to pause, look to Christ, and keep abiding in Him with grace and hope.

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During my time of reflection in December—looking back over the year and peeking ahead with my mind’s eye toward the days to come—I noticed something gently but clearly missing.

Not a lack of love for God, or discipline, or desire. But a lack of intentionality when it came to growing the fruit of the Spirit in my life.

I mean, maybe that sounds a bit strong, so what I mean to say is, I love reading Scripture. I’ve been growing in my practice of prayer. And the Lord has certainly been at work—using challenges, sorrows, and hard moments to teach me reliance on Him rather than self-sufficiency. So, there has been growth.

And yet, I realized I hadn’t been very purposeful about cultivating virtue and character. I hadn’t named it, prayed toward it, or tended it with much care.

For me, that matters—because when I’m not attentive to this kind of growth, I can slowly drift into a subtle self-righteousness. The kind that whispers, I’m doing fine. I’m not really that bad.

This insight gave me pause.

Around the same time, I found myself thinking about learning—how much I enjoy it, how my brain is wired, and why the idea of a personal curriculum began to resonate with me in a fresh way.

I’d seen the idea floating around last year (mostly online, mostly through blogs), and it stuck with me. Especially as winter settled in and I noticed my mood dipping, my days feeling full but a little scattered. I began asking practical questions:

What rhythms do I need right now?

What kind of learning would nourish me?

What would help me reflect more deeply on Christ in the middle of ordinary life?

So, pairing my spiritual growth with an intentional plan made me really excited. (And yes—this is where my nerdy side fully comes out. I’ll own that). This wasn’t about doing more, striving harder, or adding another layer of expectation to already full days. It was about paying attention—about tending what God was already growing. But it was a lot of fun to research, to pray through, research and develop.

Of course, the fruit of the Spirit isn’t something we achieve or manufacture. It isn’t a checklist, or a project we complete through effort alone. When we approach it that way, it quickly turns into something lonely and pride-filled.

The fruit of the Spirit is the Spirit’s deeper work—reshaping who we are, not just what we do.

As Jared Wilson puts it, these virtues are “evidences of God’s grace in our life that fuse our hearts and minds, conforming our affections and behavioral patterns to the movements of the Spirit and the rhythms of the kingdom.”¹ They’re the overflow of a heart the Spirit has made alive.

And yet, receiving the fruit as a gift of grace doesn’t mean passivity. It doesn’t mean admiring the gift from a distance. It means receiving it—and responding.

We participate in our sanctification. Holiness requires intentionality.
Not earning, but effort.
Because the grace of God is not opposed to effort—it is opposed to earning.

The Spirit is the gardener. We are the branches who respond. Any growth we see is fruit—His work, not ours to claim.

So as I prayed and reflected, I began to wonder what it might look like to focus on one fruit of the Spirit each month—being gentle but purposeful in prayer, Scripture, memorization, and reading.

What follows is simply what I did. My hope is not to overwhelm, but to offer a framework—trusting that the Spirit may stir ideas in your own heart for what Spirit-empowered faithfulness could look like for you this year.

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1 What is a Personal Curriculum?

At its simplest, a personal curriculum is just an outline of content you’d like to concentrate on—something that helps organize your thinking, your learning, and, over time, your life.

You choose the focus. That means it can be anything that’s meaningful or life-giving to you: habits or hobbies, history or theology, spiritual formation or practical wisdom for everyday faithfulness.

This idea pairs beautifully with the invitation we’re given in Colossians 2:6–7:

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Walking in Christ is not rushed. It’s rooted. It’s formed over time. And a personal curriculum is simply one way of paying attention to how we are being built up—not by striving, but by abiding.

In its simplest form, a personal curriculum might look like nothing more than a small stack of books on your shelf—books you plan to read slowly throughout the year. Instead of reaching for your phone when you have a spare moment, you reach for the stack. You underline a sentence, jot a note in the margin, maybe reflect briefly when you finish.

And if that’s where you are, hang tight. This is not an invitation to complexity. The simplest version is often the most faithful place to begin.

In a more developed form, a personal curriculum could look more like a course you create for yourself—pairing books or podcast episodes with gentle rhythms of reflection, journaling, or prayer around a topic you want to explore more deeply.

But the heart of it remains the same: walking in Christ, rooted and established, allowing time and attention to shape us—slowly, faithfully, and with gratitude.

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2 Choosing Topics That Matter For this Season

A personal curriculum can really be about anything. I’ve seen people spend a month focused on nutrition or fitness, managing finances, or practicing spiritual disciplines. As I’ve read through examples and reflected on this idea myself, one thing has become clear: the most meaningful topics are those that align with your values, your season of life, and the kind of faithfulness God is inviting you into right now.

Scripture encourages us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18) and to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). So as followers of Christ, our learning—whatever form it takes—ought to be oriented toward growing in the Lord.

Because of that, whatever topic you choose, it’s worth pausing to ask why. Why does this matter for your life and faith? How does this area connect to loving God and loving others?

Whether the topic is stewarding your body, your time, or your resources, all of life is lived before God. Nothing sits outside His care or sovereignty.

That’s why even very practical topics can be deeply spiritual as we live out our faith in our day to day. ²

So, pray and reflect on your life, your roles and responsibilities, your relationships, your work, your limitations and your joys.

God has placed you here and now, with the family, the circle of influence, this vocation and calling. What areas of learning might equip you to glorify Him and do good for others right where you are?

It can also be helpful to consider areas of both weakness and strength. Areas where you notice patterns of temptation or struggle. Whether it’s gossip or greed, fear or self-reliance, we all have places where we’re more vulnerable. This is part of living in the “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom—we are saved, and yet we are still being saved as we wrestle with the flesh, the world, and the devil until Christ returns.

So as you look honestly over your life, where do you feel most prone to temptation? Gently bring that before the Lord and ask Him for wisdom.

At the same time, don’t overlook areas of strength. The apostle Paul prayed for the Philippian church that their love would, “ abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil 1:9-11). Growth is also about deepening what God is already doing.

Whether you choose five books on five different topics, or one book each month for the year, this is meant to serve you—your season, your capacity, your life. Don’t be overwhelmed. Be curious.

Asking why matters because motivation inevitably wanes. James Clear³ notes in Atomic Habits that many people focus first on what they want to achieve, which leads to outcome-based habits. But, he argues, lasting change grows from identity-based habits—starting with who we are becoming.

From a Christian perspective, Tim Challies⁴ echoes this same truth: “God is more interested in who we are becoming than in what we are accomplishing. Great deeds done from bad motives please God less than small deeds done from great character.”

So if the topic is Bible reading, the why might be becoming a woman nourished not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God (Matthew 4:4). If the topic is finances, the why might be learning freedom from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5) and growing in cheerful generosity (2 Corinthians 9:7).

As those who love and follow Christ, everything we do is meant to glorify Him—to grow in knowing and enjoying Him, and to let that love overflow in good works toward others. As we attend to who we are becoming, God promises that fruit will come as we abide in Him.

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3 Finding Faithful, Biblical Content

Once you’ve chosen your topics, the next step is simply finding resources.

Start with how you learn best. I tend to learn through reading and highlighting as I go, so I mostly use ebooks. But you might prefer a physical book you can hold, underline, and write notes in. For others, audiobooks or podcasts work best—something you can listen to while cooking, folding laundry, or driving.

There’s no right or wrong here. The goal isn’t to consume content efficiently—it’s to choose a format that helps you stay attentive and present.

From there, think of this stage less as “research” and more as foraging. You’re gathering what might nourish you.

One simple place to start is with recommendations from people you trust. That could be your pastor, a friend, a family member, or writers you’ve found consistently helpful. (And yes—you can always reach out and ask.)

If you visit my blog you’ll also find recommendations for Christian living through my Book Reviews

Tim Challies also curates a helpful list of book recommendations across a wide range of Christian living topics (HERE).

Before committing to a book, it can be helpful to glance through the table of contents and even read the introduction or first chapter (many of these are available through the “read sample” button on Amazon). This often gives you a feel for the author’s tone and approach and whether the book feels like a good fit.

Beyond books, I also looked for sermons from gospel-centered pastors and faithful Christian podcasts. This added variety and helped me engage the topic in different ways.⁵

However you gather your content, remember: this isn’t about collecting as much as possible. It’s about choosing a few resources that invite you to slow down, listen well, and remain attentive to the Spirit’s work.

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4 Making a Gentle Plan

Once you’ve gathered your list—or your “stack”—consider how you want to move through it.

You might decide on a simple rhythm, like one book a month. Or you might prefer something looser, moving from one book or podcast to the next without a set timeline. Either approach can be faithful. What matters most is choosing a pace that fits your life and leaves room for attentiveness rather than pressure.

When you finish a book, sermon, or podcast, pause to reflect. This doesn’t need to be complicated. A few simple questions can help you listen for what God might be doing:

What stood out to me?
What is God teaching me?
How does this shape the way I live right now?

For my fruit of the Spirit curriculum, alongside books and podcasts, I also listed a few Scripture passages to study for each topic. As I’ve worked through this first month, I’ve found this especially meaningful—returning again and again to God’s Word as the place where everything else is anchored.

Earlier this year, I was deeply impacted by the commitment to prayer modeled by our mission leaders, and I sensed this was an area where I needed to grow. That led me to write a series of articles on prayer, rooted in Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane. Keeping Scripture central helped draw my heart back—again and again—to dependence on God and learning from the life of Christ.

So as you think through your own curriculum, you might also consider keeping a journal or writing occasionally as you go. Not to produce something polished, but to help those roots grow deeper—to notice, to remember, and to respond to what the Lord is teaching you.⁶

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5 Holding Your Curriculum With Grace

I’ll admit, I hesitated to write this section. For weeks, the draft sat untouched.

Naming this idea publicly—and admitting that I’ve created a personal curriculum—makes me feel a little anxious. I worry I’ll lose momentum. That I’ll talk about it this month, only to feel my energy fade by the next. Or worse, that I’ll have to admit I didn’t follow through the way I’d hoped. ⁷

And maybe that’s you, too.

But I’m reminded that our efforts toward holiness are never wasted.

James tells us that if we “draw near to God, he will draw near to you” (James 4:8). That promise steadies me. God’s nearness doesn’t hinge on my consistency or my ability to complete a plan. His presence means He is renewing us day by day, and the good work He began, He will bring to completion—whether or not I read every book or follow my curriculum perfectly.

Because, “Fruitfulness is thriving in grace.” ⁸

That brings us back—again—to the gospel. Grace does not rest on me. It rests firmly in Christ. Which means I’m free to participate intentionally and purposefully, while trusting the outcome to Him.

Practices like reading, reflection, and discipline don’t make us more loved by God—but they do help us become more surrendered to Him. They gently turn our attention toward God, helping us center our lives on who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and the calling He has placed before us.

My prayer is that this might stir your imagination and your desire to grow in the Lord. Not by adding another ever-expanding list of things to do—but by encouraging a way of life that abides in Christ. A life rooted in grace. A life shaped slowly, faithfully, and meaningfully over time.

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1. Jared Wilson, Supernatural Power for Everyday People, p.124

2. A general market blogger I follow considers 12 topics as foundational: money, sleep, productivity, reading, reflection, outreach, etc. I like this idea because these are holistic topics for the stewardship of our personal lives. He suggests doing going through one topic every month. Remember this isn’t to become a complete expert, it’s to help us pay attention to often neglected areas of life. And, when I looked over his suggestions, I realized I hadn’t really done much reading on personal finance, so I picked up a book he’d suggested. I also realized that at this point in my life, sleep isn’t an issue, so that’s a topic I could easily pass over, but maybe that’s part of

3. James Clear, Atomic Habits, ch.2

4. Tim Challies, “Master Your Moments and Master Your Days” https://www.challies.com/articles/master-your-moments-and-master-your-days/

5. I don’t often listen to podcasts a lot, but found sermons from Tim Keller, and some episodes from Journeywomen podcast (they did a series on fruit of the Spirit) see the links below.

6. For a journaling tool, I use Roam Research as my hub for journaling and content management (if you’re interested in more about it let me know, it is a little complicated and an app you subscribe to. Article for beginners here). There are quite a few journaling resources, I’ve heard about other apps like Evernote or Onenote that could be helpful. It could also be a binder where you keep notes for each topic. Learning should be fun, so make it something you’ll use.

7. The article got long, so if you’re still here and interested I’ll tell you about my January content. For this month I’m leaning into self-control. Honestly, I might begin and end the year with this topic because I know I need to pay attention to it.

I’m reading Dopamine Nation by Anne Lembke. It’s a general market book, has some insightful nuggets, but as the topic is addiction (related to my work in mental health), including sexual addiction, so warning here that some illustrations are cringe-worthy—just so you’re aware. I re-read the chapters on self-control in Deep Roots, Good Fruit by Kristin Couch and Fruitful Theology by Ronni Kurtz.

I started The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges and The Truth About Lies by Tim Chaddick. (probably won’t finish these by the end of the month).

I listened to Hunter Beless interview Blair Linne on the topic of self-control. And Timothy Keller’s sermon on the topic as well.

I’ve been studying Galatians 5:16-26, Titus 2:11-14, Romans 6, 1 Cor 6:12-20

8. Joel Beeke, A Radical Comprehensive Call to Holiness, p.54.