Many of us are sprinting into 2023 with high hopes for a fresh start, but I am calling for a sort of slowdown, because at times, God needs us to be still first in order to run.
There’s no doubt time is moving in a manner that makes it feel impossible to even pause for a moment.
The best action we can take though in 2023 is to pause and reflect, and continue to do so as we walk in faith, always keeping in mind the precious gift of time.
I spent December avoiding the whole self-evaluation exercise that every new year entails. Just this week, that infamous question, What’s your New Year’s Resolution, left me scrambling for words until I came up with some general response that sounded good enough to share in the moment.
There I was left questioning my own resolution, eventually coming to the conclusion that resolutions aren’t always needed.
Well, this might be true, but there is so much value in being willing to ask what areas we can better ourselves in.
I want to share a few simple writing prompts that can help you begin to seek God more and truly walk in faith in 2023.
A Bit Of Reflection Goes A Long Way When it Comes To Faith
Reflecting on the state of one’s faith is the best place to start if you want to grow with God this year.
Use this journaling exercise to see where you are when it comes to your faith.
- Reflection of Faith:
- My faith has helped me in the past year by …
- Am I depending on my faith or on myself when facing difficulty?
- How can I depend on my faith more?
- When was the last time I prayed to the Lord?
- What is one action I can take to grow in my faith this year?
Whether your faith feels strong or weak, you can build it simply by turning to the Lord.
Talk to Him More.
Read His Word More.
Pray to Him More.
The more we seek God along the way, the more our faith will grow. And then, overtime, we can depend on our faith in any situation as God’s Word leads us.
God’s Word Is Key To Building More Faith
The Word of God is truly the only way to build your faith and be able to walk in faith continuously.
“So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.” Romans 10:17 HCSB
Without the Word, I would not be here, writing in faith to help others. The message of Christ has shown me the power of faith because the moment I believed in Jesus everything changed for me.
I recall being so frustrated at life itself, but because of Jesus and all He has taught me, I will never give up. I will keep going, believing, depending on my faith in Him. Worry is no longer leading me; rather it is the peace Jesus provides that leads me into the day.
Walking in faith also means having stability in moments of uncertainty.
The story of Abraham is an example of this and something to take note of.
“He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” Romans 4:20 HCSB
This is faith! To truly believe what the Lord says even when you can’t see how it’s possible.
Faithfully, Give God Your Time
If we give God even just 10 minutes of our day, our faith will be strengthened just as Abraham’s was.
In this new year, we have an opportunity to grow and use our faith more than we ever have before, but growth takes effort and time – time that needs to be given back to God.
When I did the writing prompts above, the Lord revealed this to me. One area where my faith is really being affected is my misuse of time. I have given more time to the world lately than to God. And whenever I get lost in technology or social media, I start to depend on myself and those old habits of worry that have nothing to do with faith.
There is one verse that God reminds me of often when I lose track and step outside of my faith in Him.
“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk – not as unwise people but as wise – making the most of time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15 HCSB
This verse is so important to keep close this year because as time goes on our faith will be tested. We must be careful during challenging times and use our faith instead of our emotions.
Spend time wisely and stay focused on the Lord and His promises. In doing this, your faith will be the only thing leading you in 2023.
This is honestly a message to myself and my hopes are that as I reflect on the state of my faith, that I am able to help you as well.
A Journey of Faith
Wonderful blog to start the new year. Definitely true for myself.