Start a Bible reading plan. You’ve heard that if you fail to plan, it’s a plan to fail right? If one of your goals for 2025 is to spend more time in God’s Word, what’s your plan? Maybe you start at the beginning, and read through the whole Bible for a certain amount of time each day. Maybe you randomly pick a book of the Bible and read from it. Maybe you use a Bible app and follow the schedule. Whatever way works best for you is fine. Just make a plan. And start today!

 

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 1 Timothy 4:13

Give God gratitude. God is so good to us—and it’s good to let Him know you appreciate Him. As we start a new year, thank God for all He has done, and all He is going to do. There’s something about gratitude—it changes your perspective. The next time you’re in the midst of a hard situation, try thanking God. It might not change your circumstances, but it will change your outlook about what you’re facing.

 

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Go to prayer first. When you face a difficult situation, who do you call first? While it’s important to have things like emergency contacts and roadside assistance, our first thought should be God. When you pray and ask for His help, you might find a solution you never expected. You’ll also find peace, in every circumstance. And if you think God doesn’t want to hear about the little things going on in your life, think again. He cares about everything about you!

 

Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Matthew 21:22

Memorize Scripture. The Bible isn’t supposed to be something you visit from time to time. It’s supposed to be something you carry with you, in your heart, to live life in the way God intended. One of the best ways to do that is to memorize scripture. When you’re able to recall scripture quickly, you’ll see how often it applies to situations in your life. That will help you realize how God, through His Word, provides for everything you need.

 

You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 11:18

Gather Together. From the moment God created man, He knew it was not good to be alone in life. And the same goes for your spiritual life. Gathering together is part of God’s plan. Whether it’s church or a Bible study, gather with other Christians. We encourage one another, refine one another, and hold each other accountable. Isolation is one of the ways the enemy gets a foothold on your life. Don’t let him! Make a point to gather together and you’ll never face anything alone.

 

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

Ask God for Help with Bible Reading. Do you just pick up your Bible and start reading? That’s good, but what if you asked God for help before you start reading? Ask Him for clarity to understand the message. Ask for help in applying it to your life. Thank Him for giving us the Word of God in a way we can access anytime. Plus, praying before you read helps to clear your mind, so you can truly focus on what you’re about to read.

 

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18

Trust God. Trusting God is a process, and it takes time. Get to know Him more. Prayer and scripture are the best ways. The more time you spend with Him, the more you’ll know His heart, and the more you’ll be able to trust that His way is best. If you have unbelief, tell Him! Over time, you will come to see His leading on your life, and it will increase your trust.

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Keep Praying. Have you ever prayed for something once, and when you don’t see results, you being to doubt God? Keep praying. Sometimes He is trying to show you the perfect timing. Sometimes He is trying to show you a better outcome. Sometimes He is growing your faith. Be persistent in your prayers and watch God work in your life, and in your heart.

 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Be Generous. It’s tempting to hold on tight to what you have. You’ve worked hard for it, after all. In reality, everything you have is a gift from God. And without His provision, we would have nothing. That means you can be generous with what you have. Pray about it. And even if it stretches you, be generous if that’s how God is leading you. Your faith will grow as you watch Him provide. And you’ll get the blessing of seeing His provision provide more than if you had held onto it.

 

If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 1 John 3:17

God is worthy of worship. Worship is a response of the heart. When you realize more about who God is and what He has done, you can’t help but worship. He spoke the world into existence. All the plants. All the animals. All the galaxies. All the blood vessels in your body. And somehow, He keeps it all in balance. All day. Every day. Just look around; aren’t you drawn to worship?

 

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Psalm 100:2

Seek God Through Fasting. When you think of fasting, the first thing that probably comes to mind is giving up food. And that’s one way. It might be just a certain food, activity, or comfort item. The idea is that in giving something up, you contemplate what God has given up for you. When you’re reminded of your fast, pray. Ask God to reveal His will to you. Even though you’ll go without, you’ll come out of your fast fully satisfied in the Lord.

 

When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:17-18

Fellowship is a Picture of God. It’s not good for you to be alone. God demonstrates that in Himself, present in the Trinity. Every Christian is like an ingredient in the recipe of faith. When something is missing, the recipe doesn’t turn out as good. So, learn to embrace other believers who aren’t exactly like you. They’ll bring something to the mix that you never could. And you’ll have a clearer view of God’s Kingdom, and the creativity of His creation.

 

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Put the Bible into practice. It’s one thing to read the Bible. It’s something else to do what it says. That faith in action helps to grow your faith. When you obey what God says, you’ll be blessed. Things might not be easy, but you will be able to see God’s hand at work. Even in your trials, His purpose will be revealed. Is there anything better than that?

 

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that His works have been carried out in God. John 3:21

Give faithfully. There are so many unexpected benefits of faithful giving. You’ll likely learn about God. You’ll trust Him more. And you might even see how God uses your giving to bless someone. Before you give, pray and ask God His will. Then you can give cheerfully, knowing you are doing exactly what your Heavenly Father desires!

 

When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:2-4

Explore the History of the Bible. When you’re reading your Bible, do you spend much time thinking about the setting and the people present? If you have a study Bible, check the beginning of the chapter for information on the background. Understanding the circumstances will give depth to what you’re reading. Realizing that the events of the Bible actually took place will help you understand that God is real and present in your life!

 

I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119:15-16

Make disciples. Discipleship is a special kind of friendship. The most important thing is to spend time together. You might go on walks, work out together, or get coffee. Remember, your meet ups don’t have to happen at church! Pray for your friend, and teach them what you know about growing in your faith in Jesus. The more authentic your friendship, the more effective your discipling will be. If you want a good example, look at how Jesus taught His friends in the Bible.

 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

Prepare for battle. When a soldier goes into battle, they have studied battle plans. You have a weapon that you’ve been trained to wield. It’s the Word of God. But if you don’t know how to use your weapon, you won’t be able to fight effectively. And that’s why memorizing God’s Word is so important. It’s a powerful tool, but only when you know how to use it. Take time today and practice wielding your spiritual weapon so you can be ready for anything!

 

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

Practice joyful gratitude. When the Bible says to give thanks it all circumstances, it doesn’t just mean the happy times. Have you ever been in the middle of a mess and just stopped to thank God? It changes the way you see your trouble. It brings joy in the middle of hardship. When you’re constantly grateful, you’re reminded of how God has never failed you and reassured that He never will.

 

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Stretch your worship. How do you worship God? Some people raise their hands when they sing and pray. Some people bow their heads quietly. You might worship at church, at home or in your car. You might do it alone, or with other people. Worship can happen when you’re overflowing with joy, or when you’re weeping in despair. There are so many ways to worship God. It’s a response of your heart to God’s goodness. Set aside some time each day to worship.

 

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24

Turn to the Bible first. When you’re facing a hard decision, where do you turn? You could trust your gut, or consult a friend. But when Christians consult a Bible, they find they are most satisfied with their choice. When it comes to how you see, interpret and respond to the world around you, there’s nothing better than God’s Word to lead the way! It will never lead you astray.

 

The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. Psalm 37:31

Invite God into your fellowship. When you get together with other believers, you aren’t just like-minded people hanging out. The Holy Spirit is gathered there too. That means your conversation can be blessed beyond measure. And you can pray for each other, asking God to intervene. Fellowship is more than friendship. Christians are all members of God’s family. And that bond can’t be broken.

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Give from the heart. Every cent you have in the bank is on loan from God. He is over everything on all the earth. What you spend money on reveals the nature of your heart. Prioritize your giving in a way that honors God and shows your love for Him. Give first to your church, then to other ministries. When you worship God with you giving, it pleases Him, and He can bless you.

 

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Meditate on Scripture. Is there a certain Bible verse that has grabbed your attention? Study it! Investigate who wrote it, and why. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine how you would normally respond, and how you could do that in a more godly way. The more you read God’s Word, the more you will desire it. After awhile, you won’t be able to get enough!

 

His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

Read books by Christian authors. God uses believers to bless one another. When you read words written by a brother or sister in Christ, you can get a new perspective on God from a different point of view. It can be refreshing and encouraging. While you may not have the same personal convictions as another Christian, you will share fundamental beliefs—and that’s what matters. Even if you don’t change your mind on anything, it’s always valuable to be able to empathize with others.

 

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, Proverbs 3:13

Trust God at all times. When things are going great, it’s easy to trust God. But what about when life is hard? Believe it or not, hard days are a demonstration of God’s love. He cares for you so much that He is always trying to transform you to be more like Jesus. And that often happens through trials. Good times and bad times come and go. Still, God never changes. You might not understand why He allows certain hardships, but you can trust they are always for your best!

 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Fast to be filled. Does fasting make you want to let out a groan? Instead of a groan of unwillingness, let it be a groan of the Holy Spirit, setting you free. When you give up something, God doesn’t leave you empty. Instead, He fills you with one of His attributes. Maybe patience, love, or peace. When you fast, switch your focus, from what you’re not getting, to what God is giving you instead.

 

But he answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Memorize scripture so you can use it. When you’re suddenly in a hard situation, it’s good to have a verse you can use to know what to do. While it’s good to have a Bible app on your phone, it’s best to have the Word of God in your heart, so you can recall it at a moment’s notice. But which verse should you memorize first? Is there a sin that keeps creeping into your life? Find a verse that addresses it and work on memorizing it. That way, when you feel tempted, you can call on that verse to fight the battle!

 

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Make fellowship a priority. Life is busy, and it’s easy to put people on the back burner. Take the time to get to know other Christians. Whether it’s a Bible Study, or just socially, it’s important to spend time with brothers and sisters in the faith. It’s a good way to ask questions, pray for each other and check in between Sundays. God gave us the gift of others because He didn’t want us doing life alone.

 

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Give with the right heart. God wants you to be generous. Not just with money, but with your time and talents too. But he doesn’t want you to give out of guilt. Being able to share what God have given is a blessing, not a burden. That means you can do it with a spirit of joy. And you’ll be amazed how God continues to give you more than you could ever need.

 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Worship through your work. They say worship is a response of the heart. So, how do you feel about your job? While it may not always be your favorite thing, your work allows you to support your household, and it gives you purpose. Thank God for it, and look for ways you can worship Him during your work week. Can you listen to praise music during your day? Can you seek Him out as you go about your daily tasks? Can you use what comes in your paycheck to honor God’s will? While so many people are worshipping money, fame and power, worship God. He’s the only one who is truly worthy!

 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1