Be more like Jesus.
To be more like Jesus every day, focus on cultivating love, humility, and service through consistent daily prayer, studying the Gospels, and relying on the Holy Spirit. Actively practice compassion, forgiveness, and obedience to God’s commandments in your daily interactions, putting others’ needs before your own selfish ambitions.
Daily Spiritual Practices
- Prayer and Stillness: Start the day with quiet time to connect with God, which helps align your thoughts with His.
- Study the Gospels: Read the Bible to understand Jesus’s character and actions, allowing His life to inform your daily choices.
- Confession and Repentance: When mistakes occur, repent quickly and rely on God’s grace to change.
Cultivating Christlike Character
- Humility and Service: Actively serve others without seeking recognition, adopting a “foot-washing” attitude of self-giving Love.
- Forgiveness: Let go of grudges and forgive others, just as Christ forgave.
- Love for Others: Show compassion to those suffering and engage with people in their own worlds, acting as Jesus would.
- Obedience: Choose to live by God’s commands rather than self-interest.
Actionable Steps for Daily Life
- Choose Humility: Avoid bragging and choose to serve others in daily interactions.
- Be Patient and Kind: Practice patience and kindness as central, daily habits.
- Manage Your Focus: Prioritize God in your schedule and thoughts, rather than compartmentalizing your faith.
- Be Generous: Use your time, resources, or skills to assist those in need.
The daily desire in my heart is to deepen intimacy with God and live more like Christ. Key aspirations include spending more time in consistent, deep Bible study and prayer, cultivating a heart of gratitude, sharing the Gospel, and walking in unconditional Love, service, and obedience to God’s will.
- Deeper Time in the Word & Prayer: Many desire to move beyond superficial reading to studying, meditating on, and applying the Bible, while increasing “unceasing” prayer and conversation with God.
- Active Gratitude and Worship: Cultivating a daily habit of thanking God for His blessings and worshipping Him to stay centered, rather than focusing on personal frustrations or desires.
- Intentional Evangelism: Sharing the gospel and actively Loving others as Christ does, allowing light to shine rather than hiding it.
- Obedience and Transformation: A longing for greater obedience to God’s calling, reducing selfishness, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform character, leading to improved, Christ-like responses in all situations, including forgiving others more readily.
- Intentional Stewardship of Time: Investing more time in spiritual growth and community, rather than being caught up in distractions, entertainment, or pursuit of career success
To enumerate the essentials:
Read the Bible more?
Pray more?
LISTENING to God in prayer more?
Praying for others more?
More faithful attendance or participation in church?
Obeying God more – or more readily, more quickly – when you know He’s spoken to you?
More faithful in the tithes and/or offerings?
Witnessing more? to more people?
Inviting people to church more?
Spending more time with God each day? in worship, Bible reading/study, prayer, etc.
Doing something that you already know He has called you to do, but you’ve been hesitant, procrastinating, or making excuses?
I realize we could all do better at a lot of these at times. But whether one of these, or something else, what one thing jumps out as the most needful for you to work on in 2026?
Several biblical figures are highlighted for having an exceptionally close, obedient, or intimate relationship with God, often characterized by direct communication, deep faith, or obedience. Prominent examples include Abraham (called God’s friend), Moses (spoke to God face-to-face), David (a man after God’s heart), Enoch, and Noah, who “walked with God”.
Key People with a Close Relationship with God:
- Abraham: Known as the “friend of God” and a father of faith who obeyed God’s call to leave his home.
- Moses: Conversed with God directly and led the Israelites out of Egypt, frequently seeking God’s guidance.
- David: Described as a man after God’s own heart, a devoted worshipper who depended on God.
- Enoch: Walked so closely with God that, according to Genesis, he was taken up to heaven without experiencing death.
- Noah: Walked with God and obeyed him by building the ark, maintaining faith in a corrupt society.
- Daniel: Recognized for his intense devotion, prayer life, and righteousness.
- Mary (mother of Jesus): Showed immense trust and obedience in submitting to God’s plan, notes Pure Flix.
- Paul: Transformed from an enemy to an apostle who experienced deep revelations and commitment to Christ.
Key Characteristics of These Relationships:
- Obedience and Faith: Following God’s guidance, even when difficult, was central to their connection.
- Communication: Regular and often direct interaction with God through prayer, vision, or voice.
- Intimacy: Described as “walking with” God.
- Presence: Prioritizing and experiencing the tangible Presence of God in our lives.