what works for me

For many years in my life...I kept asking myself the question 'how do I grow closer to God.'

For years, it seemed like I would never find the answer. I would try different things all of the time. I would try praying more, reading my bible more, listening to worship music, journaling, meeting with mentors, etc.

Looking at that list I just put down, you're probably thinking that those are ways to grow closer to God. Yep. You are 100% right.

I believe it's how you utilize those things and what works best for you. Before I go any further, my challenge for you is to answer the question 'what works for me?'

Ultimately, the best way to grow is reading your bible. That is what has worked the best for me and that's what I have heard many other people say. Again, it's how you figure out how to read it where you will grow the most.

Think about it this way....think about all the places that make cheeseburgers. Especially all the fast food restaurants. Each and every single one of those restaurants is still in business because they figured out how they are going to make their cheeseburgers special. See, all of the restaurants make good cheeseburgers, just like how as believers, we are all believers. Just like how the restaurants figured out what works best for them, as believers, that is what we are supposed to figure out as well.

We all want to grow right?

The Holy Spirit has to power to help us all grow in so many different ways...we just have to trust God and figure out what works the best, and where we are most fulfilled.

Quick Tips: (this is how I do it)

1. Reading my bible every day

- I will aways read two books at a time and and one chapter each. For example, this morning I read 1 Timothy 3, and Psalm 113. It usually takes me 10-15 minutes tops to do this. I found it to be extremely beneficial for my growth to read less but focus more. I've been reading my bible this way for the past 4 years and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

2. Journal what I read about

- journaling has been huge for me. If I didn't journal I wouldn't remember as well what I had just learned from reading my bible. I journal in the same format every time I read my bible. I leave a couple lines to write my: thoughts, application, favorite verses, questions, and a prayer. I will jot down 3 or 4 bullets points about what I thought about the scripture. I always jot down 3-4 bullet points about how I can apply this to my life immediately. Then I will also write down my favorite verses. One of my favorite parts about my journal is the question and prayer lines. I always write a question that I would have if I was talking to God. Then I write down a specific prayer that I have for the day. You don't have to journal a book in order to grow, you can also make this short and sweet.

3. Writing a blog

- so I am not telling you to all start a blog because it's how I grow, but it's been one the most special ways that I grow on a daily basis. Typing out what I read about and sharing it with others is a great way to apply what I learned to my life right away. Plus, I just want others to grow and be encouraged as well.

4. Bible App

- I was completely unaware of this until Rach asked me a couple months ago if I wanted to start doing a bible app plan together. So if you have the bible app on your phone, there is an option to do plans and have friends do them with you. This has been one of the ways in which Rach and I grew the most. These plans get you thinking about things that you might not ever talk about right away. One of the best things about the bible app is that the plans don't take very long. I am going through a plan with my friend Cole right now, and this morning it took my 3 minutes to read the devotional, the verses, and type out what I was able to take away from it. The type out your response section is the coolest, because then you are able to apply and share what you learned right away.

I am not perfect. I am a sinner, I don't think I am the best person to take advice from by any means....but this stuff works. It's not about how much you do, but doing what works for you. What works for me is all very time efficient and it's just being disciplined.

I don't have the relationship with Christ that I do because I've written a few blog posts, journaled a couple times, and read my bible here and there. I have the relationship with Christ that I do and the crazy faith that I have because I do these things on a daily basis and have been for years.

I figured out what works best for me and I do it a lot....that is my challenge to you.

(ps. there are days where I can't do all of those things...but it's always something.)

Just like you can go find a good cheeseburger almost anywhere, there are people out there who have their own ways of doing things super well. You just have to learn from others, figure out what works best, and take off and run with it.