Greg Locke: Unlock Your Best Year Ever
Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church is calling for a radical shift in perspective for 2025: live your best life ever by prioritizing eternal values over temporary, earthly pursuits.
In a recent sermon, Locke reflected on the struggles of the past year, acknowledging how his church has faced trials, fought through adversity and stayed committed to fulfilling the will of God. While 2024 was a challenging year for many, Locke urged believers to view their hardships as opportunities to grow stronger in faith and to align their lives with God’s eternal purposes.
Locke’s message is a call to resist being consumed by distractions and materialism of the modern world. Instead, he encourages his congregation to focus on spiritual principles that lead to growing in Christlikeness and lasting fulfillment.
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To help believers navigate 2025 with purpose and clarity, Locke outlined four transformative principles for living a great year:
- Forgive people that will never ask you to: Holding onto unforgiveness only creates bitterness and hinders spiritual growth. Letting go, even when the other person hasn’t sought forgiveness, frees your heart for greater peace. “You’ve got to learn to forgive people that do not want your forgiveness,” Locke explains. “Forgiveness is a gift that you give yourself.”
- Find yourself a secret place to spend time with God: In a noisy, fast-paced world, carving out quiet moments to pray, reflect, and connect with God is essential for spiritual renewal. “You want the best year you’ve ever had?” asks Locke. “Find yourself a place where you can get alone with God. And by the way, find yourself a place where you can get alone with God and only God is allowed to be there with you.”
- Fellowship with people that encourage you: Surround yourself with a community of believers who uplift and inspire you. Positive, godly relationships provide strength and accountability. “[Do] you want to be somebody that puts the kingdom first? Stop living your life around people that drain your battery,” says Locke. “…do not spend your life consistently fellowshipping with people that make you feel like garbage when you’re done with the conversation.”
- Free your heart and mind of needless distractions: Clear away the clutter—whether mental, emotional or material—that pulls you away from your spiritual goals. Focus your energy on what truly matters. “Sometimes we just have to free ourselves from distractions. And I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have hobbies, you should have them. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t enjoy social media, it can be used correctly, and there’s nothing wrong with entertainment, nothing wrong with vacations, but when those things become the main things, something’s wrong,” Locke implores.
Each principle represents a step toward a more meaningful life aligned with the Word of God. Locke challenges fellow believers to embrace these practices not just as resolutions for the year but as lifestyle changes that lead to eternal rewards.
As 2025 begins, Locke’s sermon serves as a powerful reminder that true fulfillment comes from living with an eternal perspective. By letting go of past hurts, prioritizing time with God, building uplifting relationships and decluttering our lives, we can experience a year marked by peace, purpose and spiritual growth. It’s a message of hope and renewal for anyone ready to embrace the best life God has planned for them.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
