As we step into 2025, I want to extend an invitation for this year to be the best year of your life. How? By making it the best year of your life spiritually. That’s not just an empty promise; it’s a life-changing truth I’ve experienced firsthand. Let me share my story with you.
My Story
In my early 20s, I gave my heart to Christ, but over the years, my faith became stagnant. I was attending a church in Augusta, Georgia, that wasn’t rooted in the Bible, and I slowly drifted away from a vibrant walk with God. It’s like swimming in the ocean—you’re enjoying the waves, but before you know it, the current has taken you farther down the beach than you ever realized. That’s where I was in my spiritual life when I moved to Birmingham in 2001.
I wasn’t growing in my faith. I wasn’t plugged into a small group. I wasn’t consistently reading my Bible. I was far from God. Then, in 2003, everything changed when I started attending Church of the Highlands. From the moment I walked through those doors, I experienced the manifest presence of God in a way I hadn’t felt in years. It’s hard to describe, but once you’ve been in the presence of God, you’re acutely aware when you’re not.
Where New Heights Began
As I continued attending Highlands, my faith came alive again. I joined the church, got baptized, and began attending small groups. Eventually, I joined the Dream Team and started serving in the student ministry. That’s when God revealed a deeper purpose for my life. Through Highlands, God equipped me to help launch Bigtime Ministries in Mountain Brook in 2006. For almost 20 years, we’ve discipled thousands of students—an incredible ministry that was all God’s idea. Highlands didn’t just help me rediscover my faith; it prepared me to walk in my calling.
Here’s the point: Unless you’re in an environment where you can thrive, you’ll never experience all that God has for you. Pastor Chris Hodges dreamed of a church where people could achieve new heights in their faith. That’s the heart behind Church of the Highlands—to help people Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference.
The Bible reminds us in Psalm 92:13, “Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.” When you’re rooted in a thriving church community, your spiritual life can flourish beyond measure.
Come Take the Journey
So as we begin this new year, I want to invite you to take a step toward making 2025 your best year spiritually. Join us for 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, a cornerstone of our church since it began. Whether you join us in person or online, these 21 days can set the tone for the rest of your year. Fasting is a powerful way to draw closer to God, and Highlands offers many resources to help you choose a fast that works for you. Think of it as tithing the first part of your year to the Lord and trusting Him to bless the rest.
Matthew 6:33 encourages us, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” When we put God first, He aligns everything else in our lives according to His perfect plan.
Let’s lean into prayer together over the next three weeks. Let’s commit to seeking God wholeheartedly. And let’s believe that 2025 will be our best year yet because we’re making it the best year of our lives spiritually.
As it says in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Let’s give God our whole hearts and trust Him to guide us.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’m so grateful for each of you. If you’d like to stay connected, please opt-in to receive more updates, encouragement, and resources. Let’s step into all that God has for us this year.
My prayer for you is simple: May 2025 be your best year yet—spiritually, emotionally, and in every area of your life. As Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Let’s do this together!
