My last post was about the importance of personal spiritual growth for us all. This time I would like to talk about steps we can take to encourage or enhance our spiritual growth. First of all, the fact that we recognized the need and are willing to take steps towards spiritual growth is a major step in the right direction. We all need the guidance and direction that God’s word provides but sometimes it’s difficult to know how and where to start. Going to church on Sunday is a good starting point, but there is more to it than that. If we endeavor to put Him first, He will provide a way for us to grow.
- Prayer is a good starting point. Prayer is more than repeating what you have read or heard in the past, it is a conversation with God. Ask Him to help you get started, ask for understanding and wisdom and thank Him even before He provides it. Prayer is always a good starting point no matter what you are attempting to do. And while He knows what you want and need, He still wants to hear from you. Prayer shows a willingness on your part.
- Read your Bible. God provided an instruction manual for us; it’s called the Bible. Read it, research it, apply it in your life and share it with others. Yes, I know, it’s easier said than done. Even when we research verses it can be confusing, and there will be differences of opinions on some scriptures. When I’m researching something, I look at several different sources and generally speaking if there are three or more that agree on the meaning then I take that into consideration. Also understand that there are different points of view on some verses because God reveals things to us over time. I remember a time when speaking in tongues was not widely accepted and the gifts of the Holy Spirit were thought to have died out with the apostles. There are some who still believe that but now it is more widely accepted that these gifts still exist.
- Join a group of believers (or start your own group) who meet to talk about scripture. Decide ahead of time what verses you are going to discuss so everyone can read, think about it, pray about it and even google it. Then discuss it within the group, what you learned from the verse, how you have applied it to your life – we can all learn from each other. I find small groups work best because people are more willing to ask questions, and it’s important to feel comfortable asking questions especially if you are just beginning your journey. Even if you’ve been seeking the Lord for a long time, you may have questions. We may voice something or ask a question that someone else was not comfortable asking, as I said we can all learn from each other.
- Join or start a book club where you choose a bible-based book to read and discuss in the group. You would be amazed how two people can read the same chapter of the same book and get something totally different from it. Use this time not only to learn from each other but to build connections and a strong foundation. The connections we build will provide us with resources when we need to seek spiritual counsel.
- Make a commitment to God that you are going to read scripture on a daily basis. I realize this isn’t easy when you have work, family and life in general to deal with. But think about it in the terms of this is about your life, your eternal life, that you are working towards. So, decide to use your time wisely. Maybe get up earlier or go to bed later; choose a time when it will be quiet or when you can slip into a room by yourself and close the door; set the alarm on your phone to remind you; and more importantly – do exactly what you have committed to do – read your Bible. But don’t just read it, think about what you are reading, picture it in your mind, ask yourself “how does this apply to me?”. And if you don’t understand what you read, google it or call a friend who is on the same journey and talk about it. (Remember those connections we talked about in #4?) They may not have an answer to your question at that moment, so give them time if needed. Don’t skip over verses you don’t understand, even if you only get through one verse a day because you stopped to research it – it will benefit you in the long run.
- Keep a journal. There are many directions your journal can take. For instance, what you are grateful for, the many ways God has blessed you, how you have and how you can bless others, questions you may have for your pastor, or Sunday school teacher or that you want to research, insight you’ve gained from the verses you’ve read that day, thoughts on Bible characters and ones you want to learn more about and then what you’ve learned about them and from them. There are so many directions your journal could take, ask the Father to show you what direction He wants you to go in. He may tell you ALL those areas are worth considering or He may give you one specific direction that will benefit you the most.
- Serve others. Sometimes doing something as simple as holding the door open for someone can touch their heart. You could volunteer to read to the elderly, take someone grocery shopping, cut their grass or provide a meal to someone who is homeless. Don’t forget His other creations – you could volunteer at an animal shelter.
- And finally, speaking of His creation, take time to enjoy all the beauty He has created. Sometimes getting out in nature, spending time surrounded by all He has blessed us with can draw us closer to Him. When we take the time to truly look around us at all He has created, we can feel the deep love and affection He has for mankind. Why else would He have given us all our senses and created so many things that bring us pleasure? I hope this post has encouraged you and presented ways you can use to enhance your spiritual growth and will also draw you closer to God. Until next time may God bless you and bring peace to your heart.