A wise guy in our youth ministry always says "You can't deviate from a plan unless you have one" (Rob Jones). To keep us from getting complacent in our faith and to do the better things than the good things we need a plan.
For the first plan, we look to Jesus.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a solitary place, where he prayed.
~Mark 1:35
Jesus spent time with His Father. He chose the morning. It doesn't have to be in the morning but He often did this. If Jesus did this to have a strong relationship with His father, then we should too in order to have a relationship with Him.
The second strategy is to hear the written word of God. David wrote in Psalms 1:1-2:
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
The possibilities are endless now about how to hear God's word.
The fourth strategy is giving back to God. On one of his three missionary journeys, Paul was collecting money contributed by many churches to give to those who were in need. He had this to say about giving:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
~2 Corinthians 9:6,7
The fifth and final strategy is for discipleship. Paul discipled Timothy. Paul had a Timothy and Timothy had a Paul. To have a stronger relationship with Jesus and to help someone else have a stronger relationship with Jesus every Christian should have both a Paul and a Timothy.
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
~2 Timothy 2:2
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