21 Days of Advance is all about starting the year intentionally seeking God. For these first 7 days, we’re going to cover what it takes to advance your faith.
A Fresh Start
Day 1
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
When you decide to follow Jesus, something radical happens. Your old life has passed away, and your new life has started. This is God doing something transformational in you, not a gradual process of self-improvement.
Your past doesn’t define you anymore. Those mistakes, that shame, the person you used to be—God doesn’t see that when He looks at you. He sees you through the lens of Christ’s perfection. This transformation isn’t something we manufacture through our own willpower. It’s His work in us. We cooperate with what God is doing, but He does the heavy lifting. We work from the secure place of already being accepted and made new.
This is the foundation for everything else we’ll explore in these 21 days. Growth doesn’t start with what you do but with who God says you are. Everything else flows from that truth.
Dig Deeper
What does it mean to you that God sees you as new, not defined by your past?
Take A Step Forward
In what specific area of your life do you need to stop letting your past define you and start believing God’s truth about you?
Your Guidebook for Life
Day 2
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
If you had an instruction manual for how to build a meaningful life, you’d probably read it. That’s exactly what God has given us in His Word. Paul tells Timothy in today’s passage that Scripture is breathed out by God and essential for everything we need to grow.
Think about what the Bible does: it teaches us truth, shows us where we’re off track, corrects our course, and trains us in how to live rightly. It’s transformation waiting to happen. But God’s Word only does its work when we actually engage with it and let it speak into our daily decisions, relationships, and struggles.
You don’t have to read five chapters before sunrise to build a Bible reading habit. Find a realistic rhythm that works for your life and stick with it. Maybe it’s ten minutes in the morning with your coffee, reading a chapter before bed, or listening to Scripture during your commute. What matters is consistency. When we show up regularly to hear from God, He equips us for whatever comes our way.
Dig Deeper
How has God’s Word equipped you for challenges you’ve faced in your life?
Take A Step Forward
What’s one practical step you can take this week to build a sustainable Bible reading habit? What’s the biggest obstacle you need to remove to make it happen?
More Than Just Reading
Day 3
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
James 1:22 ESV
It’s easy to hear a great sermon, nod along to a powerful Bible verse, and feel spiritually satisfied without changing anything about how we live. James calls this self-deception. We convince ourselves that knowing the right things is enough, but faith that doesn’t produce action isn’t faith at all.
Jesus made this crystal clear in His parable about the wise and foolish builders (Luke 6:46-49). Both heard His words, but only one did what Jesus said. When the storms came, only the person who built on Jesus’ foundation, who walked out his faith and followed Jesus’ instruction, held firm.
You don’t have to obey perfectly to be a “real” Christian. We’re actively working to close the gap between what we know and how we live. When you read about forgiveness, identify someone you need to forgive. When you read about generosity, look for an opportunity to give. When you read about loving your neighbor, consider how that plays out in your relationships.
God’s Word is meant to transform us. That happens when we move from “That’s a good point” to “I’m going to apply this today.”
Dig Deeper
What’s one thing you’ve read in the Bible recently that challenged how you’re currently living?
Take A Step Forward
Think of something you’ve read or heard from God’s Word recently that you know is true but haven’t put into practice yet. What would it look like to act on that truth this week?
Progress, Not Perfection
Day 4
"I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."
Philippians 3:12-13 NLT
If the Apostle Paul, the guy who wrote half the New Testament, said he hadn’t arrived yet, that should take some pressure off the rest of us. In today’s passage, Paul is honest about his continued growth. His imperfection doesn’t stop him or disqualify him. He keeps moving toward the goal.
God meets us where we are and walks with us as we grow. The key is to keep moving forward, even when you stumble. You’re going to have days where you don’t feel very spiritual or old habits creep in. What matters is that you don’t let those moments define you.
Paul focuses on one thing: forgetting what’s behind and reaching for what’s ahead. We don’t camp out in our failures or get stuck replaying yesterday’s mistakes. We acknowledge them, learn from them, and get back up. God uses even our imperfections to shape us into who He’s calling us to be.
God seeks pursuit, not perfection. So keep pursuing.
Dig Deeper
In what areas of your spiritual journey are you striving for perfection instead of progress?
Take A Step Forward
Where in your spiritual journey do you need to give yourself grace?
Hearing God's Voice
Day 5
"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."
Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV
Nobody likes being corrected. It’s uncomfortable, and our first instinct is usually to get defensive. Proverbs reminds us that when God corrects us, it’s because He loves us. Just like a good parent doesn’t let their child touch a hot stove, God doesn’t let us wander into things that will harm us without speaking up.
God’s correction comes in different ways: Scripture that convicts us, a trusted friend who lovingly calls us out, circumstances that reveal where we’re off track, or Holy Spirit’s prompting in our hearts. When that happens, we have a choice: bristle and resist or humble ourselves and listen.
When we learn to submit to God’s correction instead of fighting it, we become better at hearing His voice in all areas of life. We learn to recognize the Holy Spirit’s leading because we’re not constantly drowning it out with defensiveness or pride. God’s correction is His way of steering us back toward His best for us.
Dig Deeper
When has God’s correction in your life led to something better?
Take A Step Forward
That moment you followed God’s correction, what would’ve happened if you didn’t listen? How does this reinforce the need to follow God’s way?
Standing Firm
Day 6
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
The world is loud. Culture pulls us in a thousand different directions, each one promising satisfaction, fulfillment, or freedom. Social media tells us to hustle harder, look better, buy more. Relationships tempt us to compromise our values to fit in. Work pressures us to sacrifice integrity for success.
Paul promises that every temptation you face is something others have faced too, and God is faithful to provide a way out. Temptation will always be there, and life is faithfully difficult. But God always provides a way to choose Him. We just need to look for His answer rather than trying to handle it ourselves.
When temptation comes, Scripture is our anchor. It reminds us of truth when our emotions are screaming something else. It keeps us grounded when the world says, “Everyone’s doing it, so why shouldn’t you?” The more you fill your mind with God’s truth, the easier it becomes to recognize the way of escape He’s providing. Dig deep and stand firm on the Word.
Dig Deeper
What truths from the Bible have helped you resist temptation in the past?
Take A Step Forward
What specific temptation or cultural pressure are you currently facing? Find a verse that speaks to that issue and read it once a day for the rest of this month.
Keep Going
Day 7
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."
Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT
If you’ve made it through this first week, that’s something to celebrate. Maybe it’s been challenging. Maybe you’ve already stumbled or felt like you’re not doing enough. The Christian life isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. And marathons require endurance.
The writer of Hebrews gives us the secret: keep your eyes on Jesus. When we focus on our own performance, we get discouraged. When we focus on how far we have to go, we get overwhelmed. When we look at Jesus—who endured the cross, who never gave up on us—that’s what keeps us moving forward.
As we close out this first week, take a moment to reflect on what God has been teaching you. What has He shown you about who He is or who you are in Him? Where have you seen His faithfulness even in small ways? Let those moments fuel you for what’s ahead. God isn’t done with you yet. He’s committed to finishing what He started in you, and that’s a promise you can count on.
Dig Deeper
What encouragement can you draw from remembering how God has been faithful to you in the past?
Take A Step Forward
Looking back over this past week, what’s one way you’ve seen God’s faithfulness in your life?
