The promise of a new year is the promise of a fresh start. Indeed, God is a God of fresh starts! “His steadfast love never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lam 3:22-23). As the new year dawns, so does another chapter in your faith. Here are twenty-six ways to grow in your faith this coming year. Please note that these are not laws or obligations, but practices and disciplines that help facilitate the strengthening of our faith!

1. Commit to a local church.

It may seem surprising for church to be at the top of the list. But I have placed it here intentionally. The local church is the primary place where we are to grow in our relationship with Jesus. It is the soil where the seed of our faith will be watered, fed, and strengthened through participating in worship, hearing the Word preached, observing the sacraments, and fellowshipping with other believers. Commit to a local church if you want to grow.

2. Expose yourself to the Word consistently.

The goal is not to check off days in a reading plan, but to regularly expose our hearts to God’s Word in various ways. Take seriously the preaching of the Word on Sunday mornings. Find a Bible-reading plan and stick with it. Read a Psalm a day. Listen to the Bible on audio. Find a time and a place every day to read the Word. Find whatever works for you, and stick with it!

3. Memorize scripture.

Don’t just read God’s Word. Memorize it. Memorize specific verses that standout when you’re reading or follow a specific Bible memorization plan (you can find several online). Use note cards or an app on your phone. Start small; something is better than nothing! Memorizing scripture not only exposes you to God’s Word, it writes His Word on your heart.

4. Give attention to your prayer life.

We all know we should pray and most of us want to pray, but we often become overwhelmed by the prospect of prayer that we end up not praying at all. I have found in my own life that when I don’t give attention to my prayer life, I don’t pray nearly as much. Or at least I don’t pray for the things I should.

Sure, some prayer should be spontaneous, but regular, intentional prayer comes though specific attention and planning. Consider praying for your church on Mondays, your family on Tuesdays, your co-workers on Wednesdays, and so on. Find a schedule that works for you. Keep a list ( I do this digitally), and pray through it regularly!

5. Practice confession, repentance, and thanksgiving.

Don’t just pray for things and people. Search your heart. Where have you sinned against God, or against others? What have you worshiped and serve besides him? Confess it to him, and turn from it. Keep short accounts with God. Regular confession and repentance remind us of God’s grace and removes the seeds of guilt and shame that can take root in our hearts. Take the time also to give thanks to God for all that he has given you in Christ and everything you have to be thankful for in him.

6. Find ways to serve.

Use your gifts, talents, and interests to serve the body of Christ, your family, and/or your community. Or just volunteer to be there to help. I have found myself the most satisfied working with fellow believers doing the most menial tasks for a common purpose: we are serving Jesus.

7. Give generously.

Do you want to know a good antidote to materialism, greed, and selfishness? Give generously. Give your resources, time, and effort. There is more blessing in giving than in receiving (Acts 20:35). Pray and look for opportunities to give, and take advantage of them!

8. Make Sunday worship a priority.

Make Sunday morning worship the highlight of your week. Commit to it. Make attendance a non-negotiable. Look forward to it with eager anticipation. Prepare your heart for it. Eat a big meal with your family on Saturday night and discuss your excitement about the coming day. Pray for your pastors, leaders, volunteers, and ask God to save the lost, edify His saints, and to glorify His Son through it. Come ready to sing worship to God and hear from God through His Word.

9. Pray with your spouse and/or family.

Pray every morning or evening with your spouse. Pray with your family regularly, not just at meal times. Pray for specific family needs. Pray for others. Pray for your children when they are sick. Pray for people in your family/friend group. Pray for your church. Pray for missionaries. Pray with the nations. Commit to being a praying family.

10.Join/Invest in a small group.

If your church has life groups or small groups, join one. If you’re in one, invest in it. Attend regularly. Learn names. Invite people to your home. Go to lunch together. Get to know people and walk through life with them. Ask how you can pray for them, and do it!

Continue reading “26 Ways to Grow in Your Faith in 2026” →