I arrived at the coffee shop with my work bag in one hand and finishing a phone call with my oldest son in the other. Noticing that my favorite corner seat by the outlet was available, I secured the table and began my to-do list for the day. I ordered the usual, chatted quickly with the barista, and dove into my day. A few minutes later a college-aged girl joined her pastor at the table next to mine.
Their conversation seemed “spiritual goals” in nature, and so I couldn’t help but work with one earbud out to tune halfway into the advice the pastor was going to offer her. As she asked for direction, he gave her a well-meaning list of “to-dos.” I could feel the weight of the conversation and gathered that she desperately wanted to have the right answers. But the outline he was writing for her may have not been quite where she was in her life.
I wanted to scoot my chair over to their table so badly and let her know how proud I was of her courage to have this conversation. Starting something new can be discouraging, especially when suggestions don’t feel like the right fit for where or who you are. Trusting in God is the perfect place to start. Learning and studying the Bible allows us to find Him faithful, steady, and true in our day-to-day.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
—Psalm 18:2
How do we get to the place where time in the Word grows us to the point where we desire more and more time with Him, and we can say with everything we’ve got that He indeed is our rock, fortress, shield, and stronghold? No matter what stage you are in or the stage of the one you are mentoring, developing a lifestyle of spiritual growth doesn’t have to be draining to be sustaining. It can be as simple as start, see, and stay.
Start with a realistic plan.
I have done studies or reading plans that help keep me on track weekly, others hold me accountable daily, and some I have done with a small group to add to the learning experience (and fun!) in community with others.
See God throughout your day.
Look for His glory in creation and in moments of worship. Keep a running list of where you saw Him and experienced His love, provision, grace, correction, and comfort. Looking back is incredibly faith-building.
Stay the course and extend grace to yourself.
The most hopeful thing about life in Christ or getting to know Him more and more is that He already is ahead of you this year. He knows the obstacles. He is aware of the things that will distract or derail you—yet He will find other ways to fill you and help you.
Growing spiritually and finding community might be more about the long-term and less about the checklist. After all, haven’t we all felt behind or burned out at times and desired to know God more deeply? Bible study doesn’t have to be frazzling to be fulfilling, friends.
There have been seasons where I prayed while hiking or taking walks, and the Lord never failed to bring Scripture to mind. Just ask Him.
We so desperately want to share what works for us where time with God in His Word has become like breathing. We long to pass on the desire God has given us to others, but their personal journey is just that, their own.
As the new year approaches, we can’t help but make plans to begin again with a fresh vision for goals, lists, or next steps to focus on. We can begin with brand new surrender and determination to stay the course in God’s unfailing Word.
We want to kick off the next year with renewed spiritual life rhythms. Let’s keep it simple and take a new step to grow spiritually in 2025. Here are five ideas to get started today and meet you right where you are at the start of and throughout this new year.
- Choose a Bible study to step into the New Year with God’s Word speaking to your everyday life. You can do this alone in the comfort of your home or invite others to join you (or rotate homes) weekly for the video teaching and conversation.
- Find a Lifeway Women event like In the Word with Jen Wilkin that will meet you (and a friend) right where you are! Gathering with hundreds of other women for teaching and worship will be an experience you can take with you all year long. You’ll walk away remembering that you are not alone and filled with hope.
- Try a Bible reading plan to do with friends, family, or neighbors. Connect weekly online or in person to share highlights and pray for each other. Invite your group to share worship songs each month to create a playlist for the year of reading.
- Pray the psalms and keep a journal to write down how God’s Word speaks to you through His faithfulness to His people. Switch things up and listen to audio of the Bible while outdoors, especially while reading the psalms about creation.
- Use a study Bible all on its own. Dig into Scripture book by book and take time to understand the context and history around each passage. It may feel a little uncharted to freestyle Bible reading especially if you’ve only had a guide in the past, but you might love the freedom and where your reading might take you.
Let’s be encouraged this new year by biblical history where we see year after year God’s people making it through all kinds of trials and unknowns and starting over and over again—with Him. He was how they made it! Cheers to all of the amazing moments ahead where we stand in awe of His perfect purpose and love for us as we say YES to growing in Him no matter what comes our way.
ABOUT Jenny Holzknecht-Howell
Jenny Holzknecht-Howell has led in the local church for over twenty years, giving her all to family ministries across the country. Her best experience has grown from mothering her five favorite kids ages ten to twenty-five years old. Jenny’s home is a busy hub of conversations, cooking, and a side of crazy! She is passionate about connecting biblical hope with the hearts of women through writing and speaking. Jenny grew up in Alaska, so obviously her heart beats for mountains and a good snowstorm! Jenny has a B.S. in Education with a thirty-hour Bible & Theology ETA certificate from Toccoa Falls College, Georgia.
