This post was written as an editorial article for the Hernando Today, published on January 3, 2013.  You can see the article here.

With the start of a new year comes a lot of New Year’s resolutions. It’s a fresh start, a time to begin anew in so many different areas of life. It’s the perfect opportunity to review where we’ve been and where we want to go.

One of the areas many people strive to revive is the spiritual life. While there are many ways to bring renewal to this foundational element of life, here are a few that I find especially helpful in my life, and in the life of my family.

Bible Study and Devotions

I believe that the Bible speaks to us today, but it can only do so if we spend time reading it. I use a reading plan that takes me through the entire Bible each year, but the point isn’t to simply get through the Bible; the point is to let the Bible get through you. This is such a foundational element of faith, and yet so many people neglect a daily dose of Scripture. My personal reading comes in the morning, and I spend time reading with my wife and children in the evenings.

Scripture Memorization

Closely aligned with Bible reading is Bible memorization. While related, the two are not the same thing. Memorization takes key passages and roots them deeply into your daily life, allowing you to recall them as needed when circumstances require them. Over the past year, I’ve memorized different passages of Scripture weekly. And in 2013, my goal is to memorize the entire book of 1 Timothy. I suggest you commit portions of God’s Word to memory on a regular basis as well. Again, I do this personally, as well as lead my family in doing so.

Prayer and Journaling

Another aspect of the spiritual life that often needs a fresh spark is the prayer life. We can make prayer seem so mundane, and yet it is intimate communication with our Creator. One of the ways I pray frequently is to write my prayers in my journal. This helps me to think more coherently, and provides a record of my prayers so that I can look back later and see how God has answered them. This is a key element of our family’s evening devotions together, and my kids participate as much as my wife and I do. Hearing the prayer of a child can be very inspiring!

Worship and Service

Another key element to spiritual growth is corporate worship. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us to meet together regularly, encouraging one another. Both Acts and 1 Corinthians also indicate that meeting together regularly is essential. In a similar manner, serving one another is also a catalyst for spiritual growth. Philippians 2 encourages us to look out for the needs of one another, as does 1 Peter 4. It may seem crazy, but when you put others ahead of yourself, it certainly changes your perspective and you begin to see others more like God sees them. My wife and I encourage our children to get involved in worship and to serve others frequently.

While this list isn’t exhaustive by any means, it is a great place to start as you seek to deepen your spiritual life. My prayer is that you find these suggestions helpful in fanning the flame of your faith.

What do you do regularly to revitalize your faith? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.