Every January people begin new habits and try to improve their life. If your faith and personal relationship with Jesus are important to you, these 5 tips can help make Him the most important part of the year, despite all the craziness of the new year. 2018. You've got this!
1. Study scripture daily.
Commit to reading a chapter or section a day from a book of The Bible. Pick books you will find interesting or ones you have favorite quotes from. If you start inviting The Word into your life on a daily basis you will begin to hear God's voice and find answers to your troubles. You will often be shocked how relatable the text is; a day in The Word is a day well spent.
2. Pray over your food.
Start praying over your meals. It may feel a little awkward at first, especially if you eat meals with non-religious friends. Once you make it a habit, it opens doors for healthy dialogue with people who have different beliefs than you, and also reminds you to pray more often. BONUS: sometimes other believers see you pray over your food, approach you and become your new bestie.
3. Start a gratitude journal.
When you write down what you appreciate, prayer can become less of a chore/to-do list for God and a more personal encounter for both of you. Something I love doing is writing down something I am grateful for every time I find myself comparing my life to others. Gratitude is the key to peace and fulfillment in your faith.
4. Listen to praise and worship music.
When you are feeling stressed, walking to class, driving to work, or dealing with the daily grind pop in some headphones and listen to some praise music. Listening to some good praise music can change your attitude and day in a few minutes, it will bring you joy and appreciation for your Almighty God. BONUS: find a live praise and worship group or even join one. Worshipping with a large group of people can be one of the most powerful faith experiences.
5. Do some service.
Give to someone else. It can be as simple as holding the door or as big as going on an international mission trip. Just choose to be kind. Seek opportunities that can give you a chance to serve God's people. Service will not only help others and strengthen your relationship with God, but it will also keep you feeling like a firework.
2018. This year can be your best yet. When you welcome Jesus at the forefront of your life and make Him your biggest priority, everything else seems to fall into place. I hope this year is filled with peace and blessings for us all.
