By Rachel Riquelme
The start of a new year brings a lot of energy—new goals, a fresh vision, and a strong desire to do things better than last year. As leaders, it is natural to jump straight into planning and focus on what needs to change, what needs to grow, and how we are going to get there.
But before the meetings, the strategies, and the execution, there is an important question worth asking: How is your faith right now?
Leadership has a way of constantly drawing from us. We pour into our teams, cast vision, solve problems, and carry a lot of responsibility. If we are not careful, our faith can shift from being the foundation of our leadership to something we try to squeeze in around it. This year, what if we choose something different? What if we focus less on resolutions and more on our relationship with God?
It is important to recognize that we lead best when we’re deeply rooted in Christ and grounded in His Word.
As we step into a new year, here are three areas to focus on to grow in our faith and lead with intention.
1. Make Space Before You Make Plans
Most leaders are great at filling calendars, but we are not always great at protecting our time. Deep faith doesn’t grow accidentally; it grows when we intentionally make space for God. That doesn’t mean adding pressure to have a “perfect” quiet time. It might look like starting our day with a few quiet minutes of prayer, reading Scripture before opening our phones, or building short pauses into our days to reset our hearts and minds. Small, consistent rhythms will create room to talk to and listen to God, and this will give us clarity to lead.
2. Remember Our Identity in Christ
Leadership culture often celebrates output—highlighting and focusing on results, numbers, and wins. But faith reminds us that our identity comes first. Before we are leaders, we are image bearers—known, loved, and called by God. Taking time early in the year to reflect on who we are and how we lead can change the trajectory of our impact. Are we leading from a place of trust or pressure? From calling or comparison? When we anchor our identity in Christ, we learn to lead with confidence, humility, and freedom instead of fear or stress.
3. Don’t Grow Alone
Leadership can feel isolating, especially when we are carrying responsibility for others, but faith was never meant to be practiced solo. Going deeper means choosing community and finding people who can pray with us, challenge us, and walk alongside us. That might be a mentor, a small group, or a few trusted leaders who understand the weight we carry. When we grow together and support each other, our faith becomes stronger, and our leadership becomes healthier.
A new year is more than a fresh start; it’s an invitation to slow down, go deeper, and lead from a place of spiritual health. When our faith is the foundation, we lead from an overflow, and we follow where God leads. This year don’t just set resolutions. Pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord and lead from it.
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