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Growing Closer To God
5
Ways to Grow Closer to God in the New Year
Cindi
McMenamin
Do you have a plan for growing spiritually in
the next 12 months?
Many people wonder how they can begin growing
closer to God or getting closer to His plan for their life.
I had to start writing out a plan every
January to ensure I didn't end the year in the same place, spiritually, as I
was when the year started.
Year by year, we might not notice a lack of
spiritual growth in our lives.
But you'd be surprised how quickly ten years
can pass without having memorized one verse of scripture, without confronting a
habitual sin in your life, without having shared the gospel with an unbeliever,
without having experienced a point in your walk with God that lit a fire under
you and caused you to live differently.
Instead of making
"new year's resolutions" each year, I sit down with God and ask "How
will I grow more in love with you this year?"
By being intentional about setting goals to
prioritize my relationship with God, I've found the result is growing in my
relationships with my family and friends, as well.
Setting some spiritual goals for the next
year also helps me ensure that there is fruit developing from my life each year
instead of being a sponge that continues to soak it all in, but gives little
out.
Here are some examples of a few of the
spiritual goals that I've set through the years, many of which repeatedly stay
on my list from year to year.
Try a couple of these, and maybe even come up
with some of your own, so that you are one year closer to Christ -- and to
those you love -- by the time next January rolls around:
5 Ways To Grow and Get Closer to God:
1. Meet with God before anyone else.
Do you have a plan, first thing in the
morning, to meet with God before anyone else? It's one way of prioritizing Him
above anything and anyone.
It's also a way of making sure you're at your
best, emotionally, by the time you start interacting with your family.
My devotional book, God's Whispers to a
Woman's Heart, is designed to help you meet with God for a few moments every
day and get into the Word at the same time.
2. Get into God's Word every day.
If you've owned a Bible for years but have
never read the entire book, this is a great time to start.
There are several good resources available to
help you read through the Bible in a year. Try it in a different translation
than you usually read.
Or, ask yourself where you want to be in your
relationship with the Lord by the end of the year and then set tangible goals
for getting there through study.
For instance, if you want to know God better,
consider a study of his names in the Old Testament and Jesus' "I
am" statements in the New Testament.
If you need to slow down and learn to listen
for his voice, study all the Word says about "rest" or
"hearing" or his "voice."
If there are character traits you know you
need to work on, consider an in-depth study of some or all of the fruits of the
spirit (Galatians
5:22-23).
3. Participate in
a weekly small-group Bible study or lead one among your friends, neighbors,
or co-workers.
We can grow at a faster rate in community
because we are able to share our experiences with one another and hold each
other accountable.
Find a small group study in your local
church or be the catalyst to start one among friends or neighbors or even
co-workers during your lunch hour.
4. Record your
blessings and answered prayers.
Keep a "blessing book" in which
you record every blessing that comes your way throughout the year, adding a
prayer of thanks or praise.
In addition, write out your prayer requests
and record the answers as they come.
By writing out these
types of things, you will not only be more keenly aware of how God is working
in and around your life, but you will become a person who is able to "give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus" (1
Thessalonians 5:18).
5. Pick a 'theme verse' for the year.
Say it aloud every day. I guarantee if you do
this, by the end of the year - and probably a lot sooner - you will have
memorized one more verse of Scripture.
Choose from Psalm 90:12, Psalm 119:32, Psalm
119:133, Galatians 5:16, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:6-7, or find one of
your own.
Make some of these action points priority in
your life this next year and hopefully, by the end of next December, you'll be
not only another year older in your body, but another year older in your faith
and walk with Christ.
How will you grow in your faith and walk with
God this next year?
Cindi
McMenamin
is a national speaker and the author of several books including When Women Walk
Alone, (more than 120,000 copies sold), When a Woman Inspires Her Husband, and
When God Sees Your Tears. For free resources on how to start your year right
and grow spiritually, or to check out her daily devotional book, God's Whispers
to a Woman's Heart, see her website: StrengthForTheSoul.com
Cindi
McMenamin
is a pastor’s wife, mom, Bible teacher, and national speaker who helps women
strengthen their relationships with God and others. She is the author of 17
books including the best-selling When Women Walk Alone (more than 140,000
copies sold), When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts, When God Sees Your Tears,
and When Couples Walk Together: 31 Days to a Closer Connection, which she
co-authored with her husband, Hugh. For more on her speaking ministry, coaching
services, or books and resources to help you grow in your relationship with
God, your marriage or your parenting, see her website:
www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.
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