This past year was an emotional roller coaster ride for so many on so many levels. I am glad that God has brought us through it and still is bringing us through it to the end. He has taught us so much and now I am looking forward to leaving it behind us and beginning with a fresh new start!
If you have a challenging past year, or even if you didn't, and you just want to grow spiritually stronger in the Lord, I want to encourage you towards three things.
1. Prayer - It is so important to grow closer to God in your prayer life. I have always loved to pray and try to spend time just talking to God throughout the day. When I pray this way I feel so much closer to Him. There are many books out there right now that can help you with that if you struggle in this area and this is a good one that I have enjoyed over the years:
I also recently shared a post on the seven benefits of having a prayer journal that you also might want to check out as well, I know they have blessed many who have used them. It is also fun to look back and see all the answered prayers:
2. Fasting - Every year I know that many churches like to kick it off with some type of fasting. My husband just came off of a two week fast and lost about 15 pounds. A church we used to attend would do a fast for 3 weeks with just liquids and even encouraged people that if they couldn't do a regular fast to fast something like a Daniel fast, or a media fast or fast from desserts, etc. to do it along with them.
3. Bible Reading - If you are committing to reading through the Bible here are some free Bible reading plans and don't forget you can even use your ESV Bible app to read through the year. It is a good way to get reading in especially if you are on the go.
Some moms even like to set it so they can listen to the Bible while getting ready for the day. But either way, whether you use an app or not --just find a good Bible to go through, whether you get a new one or use the Bible that you have!
The two that my husband and I use at home are the ESV Study Bible and this one that my husband had engraved with my name on it. I also own this nice Charles Spurgeon Study Bible :
If you have this study Bible, please let me know how you like it!
Here are a few extra that you might want to check out if you are looking to get a new one--these are targeted directly to moms:
Whatever your plans are--I hope that you will take purposeful steps this year to grow spiritually along with me!
What are your plans to grow more in the Lord this year?
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Dear Friend,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. These are such solid foundations to our whole lives. I shirk on them a lot and then fret why my life is not where it should be. I have seen great things when fasting. I used to be an avid faster. I have slowed down over the year. Thanks for the motivation. I have the pink Busy Mom's Bible. I really like it. I tend to always go back to KJV but I love reading from different versions. Bless you my friend.
I have slowed down in many ways too--as I get older it seems this is true in many areas of my life. I always want to make sure that I keep what is important as a priority. So glad to also hear you have one of the Bibles that are listed --I am really looking forward to getting in the Word this year!
DeleteFasting is a really important part of spiritual growth. It is something that I will also be doing more of this year. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletePost it on my blog linkup if you'd like.
Lexie Robinson
http://www.thegenesisfeminist.com
Me too---thanks for sharing here, Lexie!
DeleteBlessings to you!
Hello Mrs. June Fuentes. Wish you and your family a blessed, bright, prosperous and a Christ centered New year. I have earlier came across your blog post and I am blessed by your post "Three ways to grow stronger this year" Yes indeed those are solid foundations for any one's spiritual growth. We would love to have you and your husband to come to Mumbai to speak to our women in the church and your husband can speak to our leaders in the Churches. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, and love to get connected with the people of God around the world to be encouraged, strengthen and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 36 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have you and your husband come and send your young people to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life hanging experience. MY email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and Church planting ministry.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to growing up spiritually and I like that I have confirmed that prayers, fasting and Bible study work, I like the testimonies about fasting.
ReplyDelete