No matter how long you have not been prioritizing God in your life, today is a great day to start prioritizing Him again.
With the upcoming New Year, it is the perfect time to start prioritizing God in your life. Maybe you have prioritized Him in the past, but have recently gotten distracted or busy with other things in life. Today is a great day to start prioritizing God, and doing so will help you in all areas of life. It can be easy to not focus on God; however, this is when we are most prone to follow the sinful nature or to be led into Satan’s temptations.
As believers, it is crucially important for us to include God in every day of our lives. If we begin the bad habit of distracting ourselves from God or neglecting to spend time with Him, we will face many problems. This is why it is important for us to get back into the habit of focusing on God and faithfully following Him.
Here are five ways to prioritize God this upcoming year:
1. Pray Without Ceasing
One way to prioritize God this year is to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). At first glance, we think this is referring to praying nonstop; however, what it really means is that we have our minds focused on God throughout the day and are constantly in communication with Him. God wants to hear from you and He wants to hear about your concerns. By praying to God, you are acknowledging your dependence on Him. When we neglect prayer, we are neglecting our relationship with the Lord.
Try to pray to God throughout your day and keep Him at the front of your mind. While it would be impossible to talk to God every day without stopping, it is very possible to stay in communication with God throughout your day. Praise Him for things, such as arriving to work safely, passing your exam, or having time off. There are numerous things you can do to pray without ceasing. In doing so, you will begin to start prioritizing God this year.
2. Be Faithful in Following God
Being faithful in following God is a second way to prioritize God this year. The Bible tells us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). As the half-brother of the Lord says, do not only listen to the Bible—do what it says. While it is good to listen to the Word, it is of no benefit to never apply the teachings of the Bible to your life. When you faithfully follow God and apply the teachings of the Bible in your life, you will be truly prioritizing God in your life.
It can be easy to not be as faithful in following God and be led astray by the sinful nature. If we are not actively communicating with God, we will be much more prone to falling into sin. However, if we are faithful in following God, we will have a strong connection with Him and will be less prone to fall into sin. Following God is one of the most important things we can do with our lives because it displays Christ to the outside world.
As believers, we cannot live as the world does. Rather, we have to follow the Lord faithfully and prioritize Him in every area of our life. If we live as the world does, we will not be set apart. We would be hiding the light of Jesus away and not showing the work of Christ in our lives. This is why it is important for us to truly prioritize God this year, and by doing this, we will be a better witness of Christ to the lost world.
3. Read Your Bible Daily and Follow a Bible Reading Plan
A third way to prioritize God this year is to read your Bible daily and follow a Bible reading plan. The Bible is the main way God communicates with us in the present day. If we do not read the Bible, we are cheating ourselves out of hearing from the Lord. While God can talk to us through sermons, music, and other believers, the most clear way God speaks to us is through the Bible. If you have been away from the Bible for a while, revisit it and start reading it again.
Don’t allow yourself to feel overwhelmed by the contents of the Bible. The Bible is a really long book; however, it is not meant to be read in one sitting. Rather, you will be reading the Bible throughout your life. Just because you have read the Bible once does not mean you fully understand everything in it. The Holy Spirit will continue to teach you lessons throughout your life as you continue to read the Bible. As you can see, there cannot be growth in your walk with God unless you are active in reading the Bible each day.
If reading the Bible every day sounds intimidating, try to follow a Bible reading plan. There are numerous Bible reading plans that you can find for free online. Following one of these Bible reading plans will help you stay on track and also give you a sense of accomplishment each day you stay on task. Reading the Bible is a true blessing and something that should not be overlooked. Many people do not have the Bible in their native language. It is a blessing we have the Bible in the English language for us to read the Word of God ourselves.
4. Work on Developing Christian Friendships
Working on developing Christian friendships is a fourth way to prioritize God this year. Having faithful and true Christian friends is a true blessing. There are many fake friends out in the world, but if you find a few true Christian friends, you will have friendships that will last a lifetime. Through having these friendships, they will be able to encourage you in your walk with God, hold you accountable for sins, and be a source of hope when times are hard.
Real friends are hard to find; however, they are out there. Cultivating friendships with other believers helps you prioritize God because they will talk about God too. You don’t have to worry or feel self-conscious about talking with them about God because they love Him too. They are the individuals you can go to when life is hard and they will point you back to Christ.
5. Join a Local Church
A fifth way to prioritize God this year is to join a local church. Joining a local church can be a difficult thing, but it is worth it. Take a look around the different churches in your city and go for a service at each one. This would be especially helpful if you have had a negative experience with a church in the past. By going to different churches, you will have the opportunity to see which one you would be best equipped to serve in. When you are looking for a church to join, make sure you take time to ensure their doctrines are correct.
If a church has bad doctrines and teaches unbiblical teachings, it is best not to attend even if the people are nice. You need to go to a church that will teach biblical doctrine and biblical truth because if it doesn’t, it will only lead you astray. Instead, choose to go to a church that teaches in accordance with the true Word of God. If going to a physical church sounds too much right now, try joining an online church or watching an online sermon.
Prioritizing God this year will take time, effort, and dedication; however, it will be worth it. When you prioritize God in your life, your life overall will have much more joy in it. If you continue to live another year not prioritizing God, it will reflect in your life and your year. Choose to prioritize God this year and be faithful in following Him. The Lord wants you to focus on Him every year and to turn to Him. No matter how long you have not been prioritizing God in your life, today is a great day to start prioritizing Him again.
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