Here are 25 goals for Christians to grow in Faith this year.
As Christians, we often overlook the importance of spiritual goals that help us grow in Faith.
I wrote this article to inspire you to grow spiritually this year. If you try a few or try them all and stick to them for a year, I know your Faith will grow.
Full disclosure: I am a goal-setting fangirl.
I love setting them. One year, I set over 50 and completed about 75% of them.
Crazy, I know.
A couple of years ago, someone told me not to set resolutions but intentions. That’s not for me.
I need a goal; I like them, and the goals I set help me to grow as a person. So this year I am here are my goals to grow in my faith.
I hope this inspires you to grow closer to God this year.
The first on the list is one I am so passionate about.
Every week, I pray that Christians start doing this daily.
So, if you are reading this, know I have prayed for you.
One of the reasons I started praying for this was the state of many churches and ministries in America.
I’m not sure about you, but lately, the mainstream churches in America have left a bit of an off-taste in my mouth.
I am not saying all churches, but too many have been caught in scandals in the past few years.
Then it dawned on me. I am wrong!
Maybe I was following a man-pastor of the church more than I was pursuing God.
I was looking for a pastor to help me grow in Faith.
Now I’ve changed.
I don’t look to anyone to help me grow in my Faith. I look only to Jesus for that now.
(Side note: I still go to church and learn from the sermons, but my Faith will not be swayed because of a person)
So what have I been praying for? That Christians would read the Bible.
So this is the first thing on the list to grow in faith.
Read the Bible
One of the most transformative ways to grow in Faith is the practice of daily Bible reading.
Recent research has revealed the benefits of reading the Bible, and they truly transform people’s lives. You can read this article about the benefits here.
The power for four.
That is, when someone reads the Bible four days a week, it brings a transformative change in a person’s life.
There is a reason why David said in Psalms 119:105.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
The Bible shows us how to live our lives, comforts us, and inspires us to live like Jesus.
Journal
I have kept a journal most of my life. It reminds me of the prayers I have prayed that got answered and helps me to write new ones that inspire me for the year ahead.
Journaling your journey as a Christian and remembering personal promises can help you when times might bechallenging.
It’s always fun to read old journals and see where you are after a challenging time or a difficult period in your life.
It also helps you process emotions, reflect on things in your life and it also has stress reducing benefits.
Spend time in prayer daily.
Time in prayer is how my day starts. This year has becomebecameof the busiest I’ve ever had, and because of that time, the I spent in prayer became less and less.
Then I started setting a timer for 10 minutes to pray. I had a list of things I was praying for and would pray at least 5 days a week.
Set aside 10 minutes a day just for prayer.
This helps to really have focused prayer time for things on your heart or for those who need prayer in your life.
Memorize Bible Verses
If you are new to memorizing Bible verses, pick one or two that have changed your life and learn them. Here are some simple verses to get you started.
Join a group
If we try to live life alone, it gets lonely. Joining a small group at church or a Bible study can really help you grow in Faith.
You might not have a lot of time, but because of technology, there are now more options. Online Bible studies, prayer groups, church small groups.
Pray and ask God to show you where to go, and I believe you will find one.
Pray with your Family
Include prayer in your family life. Many overlook this, but it’s a way to touch and reach others’ lives and submit to God all the burdens you might be feeling.
Take time to pray with other family members.
Make it as simple and easy as possible. Just a few minutes can make a difference.
Share about what God has done in your life.
Sharing testimonies of what God has done in your life is a great way for you to grow and to help someone else grow in their Faith.
I love telling people about answered prayers and the miracles I’ve seen God do in my life. Sometimes it takes a little getting used to stepping out and sharing, but once you do, it really makes an impact in your life and faith.
Do a Bible Study
Pick a book, person, or topic and study it in the Bible.
There are so many methods of Bible study that help apply it to your daily lives and deepen your Faith and relationship with God. Here is an article about Bible studies from Bible Gateway that will help you.
Go to church
Even though I mentioned above not to look to a Pastor for your relationship with God to grow, I still believe going to church can help you grow in Faith.
There are so many options with technology now where you can go to church in person or online. Just pray and ask God to help you to the right church.
Listen to a Christian Speaker
Podcast, YouTube, or social media, and start following a Christian speaker who inspires you in your Faithfaith.
Read a Faith-based Book
Read a faith-based book. I am reading through two devotionals right now, and they have inspired me in my Faith.
Here is what I am currently reading:
Ellie Holcombs, “Fighting Words Devotional: 100 Days of Speaking Truth into the Darkness”
Brenda Kunnman “Write. Pray. Repeat.: An Interactive Journal for Writing Your Own Biblical Declarations”
Here is a blog post about my top recommendations for spiritual books. Five books to transform your Faith as a woman
(The books are affliate links. If you buy one of these books I will get a small commision at no cost to you)
The next goal is something I am working on currently. A promise Journal.
Create a promise board or journal.
“Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.”
Habakkuk 2:2
God had him write it down and make it clear for people to know exactly what was from God.
I believe when we write our goals and read them it helps us, and inspires us to continue.
Writing down, praying through, and remembering the promises of God will inspire you.
It’s also fun to go back through and remember the faithfulness of God in the things you are asking for in your life.
Go on an outreach
Take part in an outreach to share your Faith. A lot of churches have outreaches to share their Faith or volunteer together, find one, and go.
Outreach is a fun way to step out of your comfort zone and take a step of Faith.
Share a testimony of God’s goodness.
When an opportunity arises in your life to share a story of what God has done, take the chance and say it.
Here is an article about How to share your testimony on mission trips.
It might feel awkward at first but then you will get more comfortable in sharing.
Volunteer with a Christian Organization
I’ve had the privilege to volunteer with several organizations, and it’s helped me grow as a person and in my Faith.
Food pantries are a great place to volunteer. Most non-profits have volunteer opportunities.
Find one in your city and give back.
Give
Giving is a great way to grow in your Faith and as a person. You can donate clothes, money, or time.
If you want to take a big step in Faith, then pray and ask God to bring someone along your path. Then, when the moment comes, give.
Donate to an organization.
Donate something that an organization needs.
Go beyond and ask a non-profit if there is anything they need, and then give them that specific thing or help to give it.
Fast and pray.
Fasting is a wonderful way to grow in Faith.
All through the Bible, there are times when fasting is needed for transformation and breakthough.
Fasting has been a weekly practice in my Faith; once a week, I fast two meals and pray for change.
I’ve seen the impact in my personal lives and within the culture I was praying for during the year.
You can fast anything from social media, meals, sweets. Just remember to use the time you would have spent and pray.
*Consult a Doctor before you fast food for any period of time.
Worship time.
Worship is a wonderful way to grow in Faith. And it’s so easy to have a worship service at home now or go to a church for one.
I live in a major city, so there are many opportunities to go to a worship night, but now, with YouTube, you can spend time in worship in your own home.
Take an evening and worship God.
Go on a mission trip or outreach.
Mission trips and outreaches can really change your life and help you grow in Faith.
If you have the finances, going on a mission trip can really open your eyes to new cultures and help you grow in Faith as you step out to share with others about Jesus.
If a mission trip isn’t possible this year, then find an outreach going on at your church or with a trusted Christian organization and volunteer.
Support a missionary
Helping share the gospel by supporting a missionary can help you grow in your Faith.
It’s amazing what happens in your life when you give. When give to someone who is sharing the gospel around the world, it has an eternal impact that last forever.
Observe a day of rest.
I am the worst about taking a day to rest.
It’s something I have struggled with my whole life.
After years in the mission field and in ministry, the months I took one day a week to rest made a big impact on my life and ministry.
The Bible also says this about resting.
“Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.”
Leviticus 26:2
So this is one that I am really going to try this year.
Write things your grateful to God about down.
Writing down things you are grateful about can help you focus on things that are going well in life.
But writing down the things we are grateful to God about can help us grow spiritually. So take some time and think of the things you are grateful to God about in your life.
Here are some prompts:
- What is one thing that God transformed in your life?
- How have you seen the love of Christ in your life?
- Write three answers to prayer and how your are grateful to God for them.
Go in Nature and observe creation.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
I remember the first time I saw the Grand Canyon. It was breathtaking.
That is what God created. And it’s truely beautiful. Just seeing it made me remember how great our God is, and how creation reflects that as well.
Go outside or look at the sunrise or sunset and remember what God has created.
Keep a prayer journal and look back on it.
Keeping a prayer journal and looking back on all the things God did in your life can help you in times when it’s hard.
I’ve seen God answer so many prayers in my lifetime. Healed from Asthema, miracles of finances, healing a friend, restoring relationships.
All of these answers to prayers. And prayers I have written down that I am waiting in expectation to be answered. Looking back on the answered one’s have helped me to wait for the prayers I am waiting to be answered.
In conclusion I hope this list inspires you in your faith and to grow spiritually this year. If you try one or all of these please let me know I’d love to hear from you how it’s going.
- Read the Bible daily
- Journal
- Spend time in prayer daily
- Memorize Bible Verses
- Join a group
- Pray with your family
- Share about what God has done in your life.
- Do a Bible study
- Go to Church
- Listen to a Christian Speaker
- Read a Faith-based Book
- Create a promise board or book
- Go on an outreach
- Share a testimony of God’s goodness.
- Volunteer with a Christian Organization
- Give to someone
- Donate to an organization
- Fast and pray for a meal, day or evening
- Have a worship service at your home.
- Go on a mission trip
- Support a missionary
- Observe a day of rest
- Write what your Grateful to God down.
- Go in Nature and observe creation.
- Keep a prayer journal and look back on it.