Keeping Your Faith Fresh In 2014

New Year's resolutions are tough and mostly because we don't follow through with them.  Everyone knows that.  But there can be some health in changing up a few things in our lives, especially when it comes to keeping our faith fresh and vibrant.

So, here are a few things you might consider changing up...

(1) Your medium for reading.  I've always considered the bible to be interesting and, frankly, I love reading it.  BUT, if I'm honest, I've realized that there are times when I stop reading it in a fresh way.  So, one thing I've found to help is changing the medium I read it on.  I found changing from my physical bible to my iPhone to my iPad helps keep it fresh.  Even though the words are the same it can be like reading them for the very first time.

(2) The version you read.  Sometimes reading a different version of the bible brings new perspective.  I usually read from the ESV, but sometimes I switch to NIV or NAS or even The Message.  They basically say the same thing, but every once in a while the different wording of sentences brings fresh perspective.  You don't necessarily need to switch versions entirely, but from time to time it can help keep things fresh by reading different versions.  If you haven't already, you might consider downloading the YouVersionApp.  It's free and is a very easy way to switch up versions.

(3) When you pray.  I've found that setting a specific time aside each day to pray sets me up for epic failure.  Plans change or I get tired and then miss the time.  All sorts of things happen where I inevitably miss the time.  Then I just end up feeling guilty.  So, what I've found to be helpful is to use things like driving time to pray.  It's something I'm going to be doing anyway, so I just try to make use of the time.  For you this might be going on a run or walk, or going to the gym.  So, you might consider changing up when you pray to being during a time when you're always doing something.  For me, getting in my car has now become a reflective time more than anything...and I always seem to find myself in my car.

So, hopefully this will be helpful for you, in some small way, in keeping your faith fresh this year.
I am so excited to see what God does in and through us in 2014.

I love joining in God's mission alongside you.
Chuck