Turning 27: Growing Closer to God Every Year

For my frequent readers, you may notice this is a revised post. For the remaining of 2023, I’ve selected and revised some of your favorite blog posts while I work to complete my first book! Many of you have been excited and reached out about my book, Psalm 119: Stringing Pearls. More updates coming soon!

On October 20, I turned 27 years old, and it felt good. Leading up to this year’s birthday, I learned about the importance (yet again) of stewarding my mind and taking inventory of my thoughts. I think this will be an ongoing lesson, but instead of it being just another “life lesson,” I think it will be more of an accumulated wisdom through time. I realize that as we get older, wisdom and understanding accumulate, but it’s still important to pursue. Not because we know nothing or haven’t “learned our lessons,” but because we reach new levels of maturity, see new perspectives, and become passionate to make life all that we can make it to be with those we love and care deeply about.

As I turn 27, I recognize God’s goodness and mercy in every area of my life. I only ask for continued wisdom, growth, and deepened maturity in Him and my relationships. One big focus I had this year (both my husband and I, that is) was to grow in emotional intelligence and “mature with our age.” We observed how, in so many ways, there is so much room for growth in this area. Here are just a few things I learned about emotional intelligence and maturity, and why it’s so vital for our lives.

Emotional intelligence and maturity are crucial for all of our interpersonal relationships and overall well-beings. First, it enables us to understand and manage our own emotions, which leads to better self-awareness and self-regulation (as I shared in these posts). This leads to healthier responses to challenging situations and relationships, which reduces impulsivity,anxiety, and stress in our words (responses), actions, and overall behaviors.

Second, emotional intelligence allows for an empathetic understanding of other’s feelings, where we can be more compassionate (like Jesus) and have meaningful connections (like Jesus intended!). By actively pursuing growth in this area, we become more aware of who God called us to be and how we should lead our lives.

And finally, emotional intelligence and maturity help us hone our communication and conflict resolution skills. I believe communication is the one thing humans have struggled with for forever and it’s something we can all get better at as we get older. Overall, my understanding of this big lesson is that all of this contributes to our personal growth, successes, and relationships.

While on this growth journey, I also recognized the impact Bible reading has on my personal growth, relationships with others, and my personal relationship with God. I am more convinced than ever before that Bible reading isn’t just another task for us to do. The Bible is our means of understanding and getting to know God more. Along with that, we learn about ourselves and how we can reflect Christ more in this life. Through this, we can live our lives in ways that glorify God!

To that end, I want to share what helps me grow closer to God through the Bible every year!

Growing Closer to God Every Year

Something I started doing several years ago is reading a chapter from Psalms and Proverbs that correlates with my new age. For example, Psalm 27 and Proverbs 27 because I’m turned 27. Throughout the year, I read through this chapter often and reflect on God’s promises and my relationship with Him. I highlight what stands out, such as words and phrases that inspire, edify, encourage, and challenge me. Then, throughout the year, especially during the harder times, I look back at this chapter and my notes, and reflect on where I’m at.

Psalms is a very emotional book of the Bible, so it helps when things get emotionally hard. But it is also prophetic and life-giving, which increases motivation and energy, two things I really love. Proverbs is the wisdom book, filled with wisdom for just about every situation and character-shaping moment. I’ll sometimes take a handful of verses to memorize and let them become my wisdom for situations I face throughout the year.

Not only does this, reading through “my age’s chapter,” help me grow in my character and become a better person, but it brings me closer to God and my relationship with Him. Doing this helps me understand His will for my life and clarifies how His voice sounds. The more familiar we become with His Word, the more familiar we are with His voice!

After reading the chapters from Psalms and Proverbs for this year, I was so touched, (as I am basically every year)! Psalm 27:4 is one of my all-time favorite Bible verses from the book of Psalms because it has been a constant prayer since I’ve recommitted my life to God. Not in a cliche or Christian-ese type of way, but truly. Words cannot express this feeling I get in my chest when I pray this prayer. As for Proverbs 27, each verse stands alone as life principles I have pursued for most of my twenties.

We can find wisdom in Proverbs and Psalms that will bring transformation to every area of our lives. These books, when read consistently and obeyed, hold the potential to shape our personal growth, influence our relationships, strengthen our emotional well-being, and deepen our spiritual connection with God. They serve as a compass for wise decision-making, financial stewardship, and ethical conduct. Proverbs and Psalms guide us and help us discover purpose, navigate hardships, and foster a heart and lifestyle brimming with worship, gratitude, and compassion.

It’s just so beautiful when the Word of God speaks to us in such specific ways, which is why I also encourage people to start their Bible reading journey in Proverbs or Psalms. We can just correlate the chapter with the date every day, not just our age, and ask God to highlight something for us.

If you’re 27, I encourage you to read the following verses from Psalm 27 and look up Proverbs 27 as well. If you’re younger or older, open to the chapter in Psalms and/or Proverbs that correlates with your age or today’s date. Meditate on what stands out to you!

Psalm 27:1-14

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom should I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom should I dread?
² When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
³ If an army encamps against me, my heart will not fear; If war arises against me, in spite of this, I am confident.

⁴ One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.
⁵ For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; He will hide me in the secret place of His tent; He will lift me up on a rock.
⁶ And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

⁷ Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me.
⁸ When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
⁹ Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my salvation!
¹⁰ For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up.

¹¹ Teach me Your way, Lord, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my enemies, For false witnesses have risen against me, And the violent witness.
¹³ I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.