Step one for a successful 2018 – Tuesday, 2 January

“…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
Daniel 11:32b NKJV

It’s pretty simple really: when you know God (who He really is – His true nature), you will be strong (and confident) and accomplish great things. Success flows from growing in relationship with God. 

Most Christians want their friendship with God to improve but few are serious about it that it would lead them to action. Most people make New Year’s resolutions about things that are not eternally important. It’s not wrong to want to lose weight or get healthier, but why don’t we hear more New Year’s resolutions about being a better father or mother? Why don’t many people have spiritual goals? Growing in your relationship with God through Bible study, prayer and church participation (to name only a few things) is an eternal matter that will affect your whole life.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33 KJV

Prioritizing God and His kingdom will result in material fruitfulness. Matthew chapter 6 in context is speaking about provision. Provision is there because you’re a child of God, but it flows because you’re receiving it by seeking Him first. Seeking to grow in your relationship with God will improve your relationships with loved ones and it will even help you in the workplace.

We make New Year’s resolutions because we want to see improvement in our lives. I want to encourage you that the best improvement you could have is spiritual. Time, money and energy spent in growing in relationship with God will only be an invest which reaps eternal rewards. But don’t just desire to grow spiritually – plan to grow spiritually! As the saying goes: if you fail to plan you plan to fail!

How do you plan to grow in your relationship with God this year?
Maybe you need to plan 20 or 30 minutes into your morning routing and start spending time with God in the Word and in prayer? Maybe you should download a Bible app (I recommend You Version) and follow a Bible reading plan for the year? Maybe you should commit to trust God in your finances more by becoming a more consistent (in % and in frequency) giver? Maybe you should go on a mission trip this year? Maybe you should enroll for Bible College? (I recommend doing Charis Bible College – we offer it through our church). One of the best ways to grow is by being selfless, and so why not commit to serve at your church (that means you’ll have to attend regularly, too)? Get involved in set up or Kid’s church or ushering! Being a blessing will always bless you.

You may think all of this is legalistic, but consistency (faithfulness) is a key to success. A farmer must sow in order to reap – it’s not legalistic for him to sow, it’s wisdom! If you want to get better results in 2018 than you did in 2017, you will need to change the input and be consistent. You’re not doing these things to get anything from God, but to know God more.

The bottom line is that you need to seek God but you need to be purposeful about it.