Four Keys to Your Best Spiritual Year Yet

If you were to ask the apostle Peter his counsel for making this year your best year yet, I think I know what he would say. It’s the same thing he wrote to the early disciples.

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).

It’s one simple word—grow! Peter knew that spiritual growth was a necessity. The word “grow” means, “to increase; to become more fruitful; or, become greater.” The ultimate goal is that we are transformed from one stage of glory to the next until we are fashioned into the image of Jesus Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Here are four keys to making this year the best year of your spiritual life:

Fall in love with the Bible

We eat food for nourishment; likewise, God’s Word is spiritual nourishment for our souls. A daily feasting on the Word is a vital element that helps us to grow in the knowledge of His will for our lives. At the end of the next twelve months, we will be the same person we are today if we don’t determine to feed on God’s Word (see Matthew 4:4; 1 Peter 2:2).

Find your way to the prayer closet

If we choose to ignore the privilege of having a conversation with God, we leave ourselves open to the attack of the evil one. A plant cannot grow without air and water, and we cannot expect to grow without prayer and faith (see Philippians 4:6).

Reject any sinful patterns

Many times, we get “stuck” in neutral, which in turn produces spiritual dryness. It could be because we have allowed some sinful pattern to take a foothold in our lives. Mark the new year with a confession of any known sin and cover it with a humble attitude. Freedom and deliverance are for anyone who seeks (see Micah 7:19).

Sow seeds to invest in others

I believe it is impossible to live for Christ and grow to spiritual maturity and not plant seeds of the “good news” with those around you. Determine this year to step out of your comfort zone and focus on the needs of those who are hungry for the life-giving truth of the Gospel of Christ (see Romans 1:16).