What causes us to grow as believers? We can mention
relationships, we can speak of worship (and I say that
in the narrow sense of corporate singing time), we may
think of big events like retreats, camps and concerts,
but the one and single guide for life that we have gives
us a different answer.

What enters our life in such a way that we are changed in
our behavior? What can bring about new attitudes and actions?
What is it that actually propels us along in our journey
to become Christlike?

Psalm 119:9,11 give us a clue.
How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word....
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.

Without the Sciptures we have nothing, so my third resolution
for the New Year is to hide God's word in my heart, to study
it, to ponder it and to act on it. I want to learn better
than ever how to understand the intended meaning of what God
is saying to mankind.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of god is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow,...

There is work involved here. Any of us can say what we think God's
word is saying, or what we've heard our family say as we were
growing up, or what we rather want it to say, but to get to the
actual meaning takes both work and time.

2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who
does not ned to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.