Beloved in Christ,
Warm Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wish you all a happy and blessed New Year 2017. Here we reveals the five ways to grow and get closer to God and which makes a fruitful life through out the year.
- Meet with God before anyone else: Do you have a plan, first thing in the morning, to meet with God before anyone else?. It is one way of prioritizing Him above anything and anyone. It is also a way of making sure you are at your best, emotionally, by the time you start interacting with your family.
- Get into God’s Word every day: If you have 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). - 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.
- 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).
- 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 in this new year and hopefully, by the end of next December, you will be not only one year older in your body, but another year older in your faith and walk with Christ.
May the Almighty God bless you!
Yours in Christ,
Rev. C.C.Sabu
