Have you ever felt like God was trying to get your attention? Lately, I’ve been waking up at 5-6 AM every morning, no matter how late I go to bed. At first, I thought it was just an annoying habit, but then I started to wonder: What if this isn’t random? What if God is nudging me to use this time for something greater?
That question has sparked a season of intentional growth in my life—a season that’s already been more transformative in a few weeks than the last 12 months combined. It’s reminded me of a simple truth: Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It takes action.
Small Steps, Big Changes
Growth doesn’t mean doing everything at once. It starts with small, intentional steps. Here are some changes I’ve made recently to ignite growth in my life:
- Writing More: For years, I’ve felt called to write, but like so many of us, I let life’s busyness push that calling aside. Now, I’m making time to focus on it, and it’s been incredibly fulfilling.
- Building Strength: I’ve started doing pushups 2-3 mornings a week. It’s a small habit, but it’s helping me prioritize my physical health.
- Recommitting to Reading: My biggest weakness has always been reading, especially the Bible. While I’ve spent countless hours listening to sermons and inspirational messages, I’ve realized how much I miss when I don’t spend time reading God’s Word for myself. Scripture isn’t just a book—it’s God’s voice speaking directly to us, guiding and transforming us. Making Bible reading a priority has reminded me just how essential it is for personal and spiritual growth.
Growing Together as a Couple
This season hasn’t just impacted me—it’s brought Sandy and me closer as a couple. Over the past six weeks, we’ve grown more connected than we have in a long time. While we’ve always had a strong marriage, we realized how easy it is to let growth slide when things feel comfortable. But comfort isn’t the goal.
In our early years, we made spiritual and marital growth a regular part of our lives:
- We watched or listened to 5-7 sermons a week, outside of attending church.
- We engaged in 2-3 marriage-focused podcasts or teachings each week.
As parents of young children, keeping that rhythm has been more challenging. We get it now when people say parenting changes everything! But here’s the truth we’ve rediscovered: spiritual and marital growth can’t be optional—they have to be priorities.
Together, we’ve committed to making this growth happen again.
Taking the Next Steps to Ignite Growth
We’re not waiting for January 1 to make changes—we’ve already started. Here’s what we’re working on:
- Spiritual Growth: We’re committing to listening to 2-3 sermons or podcasts weekly and 1-2 marriage-focused teachings together.
- Physical Health: We’re rejoining the Y in January to focus on fitness as a couple.
- Biblical Focus: I’m spending intentional time reading and reflecting on Scripture, and we’re finding ways to make God’s Word central in our family life.
Why IGNITE?
This season of growth ties perfectly into the word we’ve chosen for 2025: ignite.
Why ignite? Because it captures the fire we want to light in every area of our lives:
- Ignite Our Faith: By drawing closer to God and making Scripture a daily priority.
- Ignite Our Marriage: Through intentional growth and time together.
- Ignite Our Family: By modeling what it means to grow spiritually and personally.
- Ignite Our Health and Purpose: By taking bold, consistent steps toward the life God is calling us to live.
This word reminds us that small embers can turn into roaring flames. When we allow God to ignite something in our hearts, the fire spreads—transforming our lives and impacting those around us.
A Challenge for You
Here’s the truth: Growth doesn’t wait for a new year, a perfect moment, or a convenient season. The time is always now.
Getting older is mandatory, but growth is optional. I’ve seen enough dark times in my life to know how essential it is to choose growth—it’s the difference between just existing and truly thriving.
So, what about you? What needs to be reignited in your life? Is it your faith, your marriage, your health, or something else entirely? Whatever it is, God is ready to light that spark—if you’re willing to take the first step.
Start small:
- Commit to reading one chapter of the Bible each morning.
- Listen to a short devotional podcast during your commute.
- Find one way to grow alongside your spouse, whether it’s praying together, reading a marriage book, or simply having an intentional conversation.
Growth starts today. Don’t wait. What will you ignite in your life?
Living a God-Inspired Life,
Chris