Hey Friend,
How are you? What’s happening in your life right now? How is your walk with God? Are you spending time in the Word of God daily?
As you read the questions above, I hope that you can say you’re doing great, that life is awesome, your walk with God is deepening, and YES! you are spending time in God’s Word.
However, life’s not always like that is it? Sometimes we don’t feel great – or even fine for that matter. Sometimes everything in life is not perfect, our walk with God is stagnant and we struggle to spend time with God.
Life is made up of a series of seasons. Sometimes it’s sunny outside and everything is flourishing. Other times it’s wet, cold, and rainy and life just feels dreary.
But that’s okay. It’s just for a season.
With the change from Summer to Autumn I’ve been thinking a lot about life’s seasons. Our schedule has been hectic lately (more so for my husband than for me) and we have to keep reminding ourselves that it’s just for a season.
Along with thoughts about life’s seasons, all week long I’ve been reminded how much I need the Lord. Not only do I need God but I desperately need God’s Word and I desperately NEED to pray.
Sometimes I struggle to spend adequate time in the Word of God and boy, do I ever struggle to pray. It’s not something that comes naturally for me and I know that Satan wants to keep me from praying. My mind gets distracted when I try to pray and I think of all the things I need to get done before the day ends.
Can you relate?
I want this next season of my life (autumn) to be one of spiritual growth and flourishing – in spite of how I feel and in spite of the things I need should want to get done before the end of the day. God has been working in my heart about my need to actively pursue spiritual growth and a closer walk with Him. The following list of steps are my goals for these next few months (and beyond!).
I hope you will join me in pursuing spiritual growth and a closer walk with God these next few months! Let’s get started.
8 Ways to Grow Spiritually This Fall
1. Prioritize Prayer and Bible Reading
These two things are not going to happen if we don’t make them a priority.
Even if we think something is important, if we don’t actually make it a priority in our lives it is going to fall by the wayside of our busy schedules.
For me personally, reading the Bible is a little bit easier than praying. Because of this, I want to switch things around and start my time with God by praying FIRST and then reading my Bible SECOND.
Here are some ways you and I can prioritize prayer and Bible reading in our lives:
- Plan For It – mentally plan to fit time with God into your morning, your day, or your evening. Sometimes we don’t fit in our time with God because we haven’t properly planned for it.
- Do It First – reading your Bible first thing in the morning is not one of God’s requirements. However, by spending time with God in the morning, we are making God and His Word a priority in our lives. Aim to do your devotions in the morning – and at least make sure your time with God comes before less important things (like watching TV, reading, or doing housework.)
- Just Do It – we aren’t always going to feel like reading the Bible or praying but in spite of our feelings we still NEED time with God. Let’s push past our feelings and spend time with God anyway.
>>> The Daily Glow Kit has a special sheet to help you plan and record your time with God!
2. Personalize Your Bible Reading
It’s so easy for us to pick up the Bible and not know where to turn, or sometimes we read through a portion of Scripture and nothing seems to click or stand out to us in any way. This is why it’s important to have a Bible reading plan and personalize that plan so that it works well for your particular needs.
All of us are different. What works for my Bible reading may not work the best for you. Lately, I have been studying one book of the Bible each month and reading only 1-2 chapters of that book each day (it depends on how long the book is!). It’s been really good for me lately because it’s a large enough portion of Scripture to feel substantial but it’s not at all overwhelming to fit into my day.
Try out some Bible reading plans and see what works best for you. In some seasons of life you may be able to handle a longer and deeper Bible reading plan, while other seasons of your life you might need something simple – like just one Psalm a day.
>>> Check out my Bible Study board on Pinterest for some simple Bible reading plans! ♥
3. Keep a Spiritual Growth Journal
I’ve talked a lot about using a journal during your quiet time. But I have a confession to make: I have not been using my spiritual journal lately – at all.
I’ve been doing a lot of my devotions while I nanny – and sometimes I don’t have enough room in my bag to tote along all my books and notebooks (I take a lot) and my Bible is the most important.
However, I have been missing my journal and I really feel the need to buy a new one and incorporate it back into my routine. I also want and NEED to prioritize prayer in my life, so I decided to buy a notebook exclusively for prayer and do my journaling in the margins of my Creative Bible.
I believe it’s important to record our spiritual growth by taking notes, writing down prayers, etc. It’s always so helpful and encouraging to look back on old notes and journals and see how far we’ve come and how God has helped us through various seasons.
So, one of my goals for this new season is to get back into journaling and documenting my spiritual growth by using a notebook – even if it’s mainly for prayer. How about you? Will you give journaling a try?
>>> If you need help with journaling, I’ve heard great things about this guided prayer journal.
4. Spend Time in Prayer With Others
My husband and I have been making an effort to pray together more often and I love those special times we have in prayer. It’s so helpful to pray with another person and it’s such an incredible bonding experience.
Ask a close friend (or your mom, a spouse, or a sibling) to be your prayer partner and begin praying together on a regular basis.
5. Take Notes in Church
I know that when I do take notes in church, it helps me focus and pay better attention to the message. It also helps me remember more of the preaching which in turn can help me grow spiritually – because I am making a better effort to listen, learn, and remember!
6. Read Spiritually Edifying Books
Reading is so, so good for us. When we read gospel-centered books it is so encouraging and uplifting. Sometimes reading a spiritually edifying book is just the thing we need to get back on track with our spiritual growth.
I am currently reading 15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband by Elizabeth George and it has been very convicting and motivating! (All of Elizabeth George’s books are incredibly motivating in a spiritual sense.)
>>> For a list of Christian book recommendations click here.
7. Fellowship With Other Believers
I’m amazed how encouraged I feel after spending time in fellowship with other believers. The local church was designed to be a meeting place of like-minded believers who love God and want to serve Him. The local church is also the place to go to encourage others and in turn, be encouraged!
If you aren’t already plugged into a solid, Bible-believing church, then find one! A lot of spiritual growth can happen when we regularly attend church and carve out time to fellowship with other believers.
My husband and I already regularly attend church, so for me, I want to make an extra effort to reach out to the people around me and make extra time to fellowship outside of regular church times.
8. Share What God Is Teaching You
Another excellent way to grow spiritually, is to pass on what you learn to others. This could be as simple as sharing a verse of Scripture on social media, or texting a friend and sharing an encouraging thought from your daily devotions.
Don’t be afraid to share what you learn with others!
Time for a Giveaway!
Well, my Friend, these are fairly simple ways to spend time growing spiritually this Fall. I hope you will join me in my quest to continue growing in this next season!
Because I want to help you grow spiritually this Fall…. I am going to be giving away two FREE copies of The Daily Glow Kit to help two of you get growing, and glowing this Fall!
- To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me what you plan to do this Fall to grow spiritually, and why you would like to win a copy of the Daily Glow Kit.
- Next, share this post via Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram and mention me so I can see it!
I will announce the winner in two weeks! (On Friday September 28th!).
Have fun and see you next week!
Oh, neat! I really needed this! I plan to start journaling as well and keeping track of prayer requests. I would love to win a kit, because when I read about, I was like, “You need to focus on so many of these things! ”
I don’t have social media, but I would gladly forward the information through email, if that’s alright; )
Also…
Urgent prayer request. At our church (on the coast, we are field reps for our radio station, long story ), we have lost contact with three households that didn’t evacuate. The water is continuing to rise and we are very concerned! Our friends who did evacuate have reason to believe they may have lost their homes. Please, please pray for them!
Yes, forwarding by email is fine 👍
Oh no, so sorry to hear about that. I will definitely pray for those families! I hope they are safe!
Thank you! We really appreciate it!
Wanted to let you know the families I mentioned are all safe, praise the Lord! Heard from each today. God is Good!
So glad to hear that!! ❤️
I am making Bible reading and quiet time a priority.
I would love to win the kit to help me on the days when I am struggling by providing some structure.
Thanks for sharing and entering the giveaway!
Rebekah
Thanks for the encouragement and ideas! I’d like to start a spiritual growth journal; in fact, I think I have just the perfect notebook for it! I think I’ll make that my goal for the next season. 😉
I also don’t have social media… perhaps I could take Ryana’s suggestion and email my friends about this??
Oh, and I’d love to win the Daily Glow kit because I want to grow in my walk with the Lord- and some more encouragement would be nice! 😉
Yes, you may share this post via email instead 👍
I totally love this blog! Thank you so much Mrs Rebekah for these helpful tips!
As a university student, it isn’t always easy finding time or even making some for God and that’s what I’ve struggling to do so for the past year.
I have realized about my flaws which is having no sense of organization, being scattered and forgetful! I thank you so much for your obedience towards the Lord because your blog really came at the right timing in which I really felt like I was stagnating or even moving backwards which is horrible!
Nonetheless, I am also glad that this free giveaway is also occurring because, when I saw what was in there such as the checklists and the plans, I saw that it will completely help me in my self-organization in my life and my spiritual growth of course!
This is definitely worth sharing!
How can I mention you on Facebook by the way?
I already started forwarding by email anyways, because I didn’t find you on Facebook!
I have a facebook page for the blog – which is the easiest way to find me! Thanks for entering the giveaway and sharing this post!
Having a busy schedule always makes it tough to spend enough time with the Lord – but that is when we need Him most! May you keep growing in the Lord! ♥
Rebekah
I loved this post! You’re so right about prioritizing devotional time. I haven’t been reading my Bible much lately, until yesterday. When I read my Bible, I like to take notes and look up words in the dictionary etc. so it takes longer than reading a few verses. But that’s okay, because I always enjoy it! But another thing I learned from your post, which will be a great help to me, is starting off by praying first and then reading the Bible second. I too find it easier to read my Bible instead of praying. But they are both equally important and need to be done. The Daily Glow Kit sounds really great! It sounds like something that would really help me grow even more. I’m looking forward to your next post!
I just shared this on Pinterest, btw!
Hey! Great tips, I have a creative Bible and I like it. I’m gonna try to be more content this autumn, content in the season of life I’m in..etc. 😊 I shared this on Pinterest! Great giveaway!!
Hi Rebekah,
I really enjoyed meeting you when you and your husband when you came to our church. It was such a blessing to see a young couple who loves the Lord and wants to serve him.
I plan to grow spiritually this fall by continuing to work on a personalized journal I recently started with bible verses, things I learn about God, and a list of things I am thankful for. I am going to pray more for my family members as well.
I would love to have a copy of the daily grow kit, I know it will help me get excited about growing spiritually and spending more time with God. I want to grow up to be a godly young woman and serve the Lord. Thank you for all your hard work with your blogging, it has a been a blessing to me.
Love in Christ,
Madeline M.
Hi Madeline, it’s so good to hear from you! I hope you are doing well! ❤️
Thank you for sharing your goals for the Fall… The journal you have sounds great, and praying for family members is a wonderful thing! Keep growing in the Lord ❤️
Rebekah
Great inspiration! Such basic principles, but yet something we so often need to be reminded of! This fall I plan on growing more (Lord willing) by journaling more often (both in English and Spanish, since I’m learning Spanish) and doing reading plans on the YouVersion Bible app both by myself and with friends, for extra accountability + discussion.
To win the glow kit would be such a Jesus-hug right now. This is the most depressing and discouraging season of life I’ve ever had. Most days I feel like crying at the end of the day and ready to give up. Among other things, I’m being bullied daily by volleyball teammates, which is becoming a mental struggle with me to stay positive and focus on the other things I have to get done. I feel that I’m just not having the recharge my body (physical, spiritual, mental) needs and I’ve lost all my glow. The glow kit would be SUCH a blessing for me at this time.
I did share this post on Pinterest but I’m not sure what to do so you can see it (although I think you might follow me?? So you could just look on my “inspiring” board and it should be there :))
Thanks so much for faithful encouraging us each week and providing this giveaway! <3
Hi Grace,
Thanks for entering! I am so sorry to hear about the tough season you’ve been having! I pray that the Lord will give you grace and strength to endure! Hang in there and keep choosing joy! Philippians 4:4 and Philippians 4:13 are two of my favorite verses for when I’m facing tough situations!
Rebekah
Great goals, Rebekah! I definitely have plenty of areas I can grow in too! I’ve had a lot of struggles recently and haven’t been as consistent with prayer, and you’re right, it does make a difference!
Prayer is such a struggle sometimes – Satan really wants to keep us from it! But be encouraged… We can always grow thanks to the grace of God! ❤️
Wow what an awesome post! We are actually having revival at our church this week, and we had John Wilkerson, from Hyles-Anderson College, preach. Today he preached on spiritual growth! This was such an encouragment and blessing! I wrote them down and plan to do all of them! I normally do take notes in church. (They have very pretty floral ones right now at Walmart!) But I have to admit, I’ve been letting my quiet time slide. And I hate it! So thank you for your post! It’s truly a blessing. 💖
~Jesse ✨
PS: I’d love to get your Glow Kit 😍 I love the devotion tracker and wasn’t there a water one? So neat! I would SOOOOO use it. 💖✨
That sounds really good – I love hearing edifying messages on spiritual growth! I actually just found a notebook at Walmart that I really love ❤️
Thanks for commenting and entering the giveaway! I hope you continue to grow spiritually this Fall!
Rebekah
Hi Rebekah,
I’m a new reader to your blog & you are so inspiring. It amazes me to see other young people so grounded and firm in their faith and love for the Lord. I got saved last year and sometimes it’s so hard for me witness to the lost around me, I’ve always been worried about what people think of me and it’s a constant battle between my flesh and spirit. I constantly pray that even though sometimes I don’t say something, that my actions and testimony reflect the change of heart, mind and eternal destiny that I have because of Jesus my Saviour.
This fall (I live in the Caribbean so it’s not really fall!) I plan on completing my second 90 day bible reading plan, as well as starting the prayer journal that I’ve been meaning to start for the LONGEST while ever! Like you, prayer is always the hardest part for me – I can easily read chapters of my Bible but then find it hard to quiet my heart and pray as I should.
I would love to win the glow kit & your tips to help me find more joy, grow closer to the Lord and kickstart my prayer/bible journaling.
Abigail D
Hi Abigail! Thanks for sharing! I’m so happy to hear that you recently became a Christian! God will bless you as you seek to grow in Him. Matthew 5 promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled! ❤️
Yes, it’s definitely a struggle to witness to those around us. Have you tried using Gospel tracts? They are a huge help when you don’t know what to say! Keep praying about it and God will help you increase in boldness!
It sounds like you have some great spiritual goals for this Fall. May you continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord!
Thanks for reading, and be sure to visit the blog again soon! ❤️
Rebekah
Yes, I have a whole heap of gospel tracts in my handbag that I try to give out as often as I can.
Thanks for the reply ❤️ Wishing you all the best for this week!
“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee,and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
Abigail
Glad to hear that – keep passing them out! ♥
Thank you for the encouragement!
Rebekah
My Name is Teresa Howard on Fall I don’t do nothing. I use to have Bible study but I don’t know more. Pray for me and my family.