Christians today tend to use church attendance, Bible reading, and prayer as indicators of spiritual growth. Everyone needs these things to grow spiritually, but Christians must truly strive harder to succeed in the Lord. For example, you may have read the Bible many times, but have you ever studied it? You may pray every day, but why not take the time to listen to the Word of the Lord? These are necessary elements that will not only help you advance to the next level in your spiritual growth, but also deepen your intimacy with God. Here are some ways to promote spiritual growth.
Try a new spiritual practice
All the characters in the Bible practiced spiritual disciplines to draw closer to the Lord. For example, Daniel fasted regularly. Paul asked Timothy to bring him a scroll so that he could write down everything he had learned. The prophet Elijah climbed to the top of a mountain and spent time in silence and solitude. In our daily lives, this kind of discipline is often ignored. Silence and solitude are rare in the spiritual lives of many Christians.
Even if you’ve never practiced this type of training before, it’s never too late to start. As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to incorporate new spiritual practices into your life. If you want to practice silence and solitude, set a timer on your phone for 10 minutes. Go to a quiet place at home or in nature. Just spend some time listening to your own breathing. Get a blank journal and write down anything that comes into your mind that might be preventing you from hearing from God.
At the end of the 10 minutes, reflect on what you heard. Has God spoken powerfully to you? As with everything in life, there will be times when God will speak powerfully and times when He will not. The purpose of sitting in silence and solitude is not to ask God to do anything for you. Rather, it is so that you can draw closer to God. God wants us to exist. God needs nothing more than our fellowship. God desires fellowship with us, and He desires the same for us.
Memorize 52 Bible Verses
Bible memorization is also a great spiritual exercise. However, many people do not take the time to memorize the Bible. Memorizing one Bible verse a week will not only keep your mind sharp, but it will also keep you anchored in God’s Word. Choose your favorite 52 poems. Write them on notecards and try to memorize one a week. Set aside 10 minutes each day to study that Bible. Bring a memo card. Carry it in your pocket or bag. Check it out whenever you have a few minutes to spare.
Try memorizing it during your lunch break, at the end of the day, or during a quiet time in the morning. Use this as part of your offering to the Lord. If you spend a lot of time with God during your day, use some of that time to memorize Scripture. At the end of the year, reflect on everything you’ve learned. Have you started remembering scriptures more often because you decided to memorize them? God honors you when you set your mind on the things of God.
People need the truth now more than ever. The more Scripture we can quickly recall, the more people will be drawn to us. Even those who deny the validity of the Bible or say it is irrelevant or outdated will want to know more about the Bible and why you know it.
learn words
In this technologically advanced age, there is no excuse for those who do not have the resources to study the Bible. Get an inexpensive set of explanations and start learning vocabulary. This means taking a Bible passage and looking up what the commentaries say about its meaning. You can also look up the Greek words used in those sentences. By doing so, you will gain a deeper understanding of the true meaning of the Bible. With so much misinformation circulating and AI becoming so prevalent, it’s easy to believe things about doctrine that aren’t true.
However, God has anointed certain scholars to study the word so that we can better understand its meaning. Take the time to read what they have to say. Reflect on it and digest it throughout the week. At the end of the three months, reflect on how much you have learned. Have you ever studied a passage in the Bible that you thought meant one thing, only to find that it meant something completely different? That’s the beauty of the Bible. Not only does the Bible have an important meaning in our lives, but it can also change our lives if we understand and apply its meaning.
please be an example
The most important thing you can do to increase your spiritual growth is to practice what you believe. Reading the Bible is one thing, praying is another, and posting spiritual Bible verses on social media is another. Practicing what the Bible says is quite another thing. If this is difficult, start by choosing a woman in the Bible that you admire. What traits did she emulate that you would like to incorporate into your own life?Would you like to be as bold as Esther? Are you willing to take serious religious risks like Ruth?
Start by analyzing your thought life. How many thoughts do you have that are negative or inconsistent with the Bible? If you have trouble concentrating, create a blank journal and write down your thoughts throughout the day. Write down all the negative things in a book. At the end of the day, reflect on what you wrote. Have you been shocked to see what you are thinking? Uncontrollable feelings are transmitted to the heart. Right off the bat, your mind is wired to always complain and get angry. But God’s Word gives hope to our hearts and minds. It allows us to be transformed by renewing our minds, and in doing so our hearts are transformed.
love others
This year, adjust your perspective on what it means to love others. Limit the number of social media and media you use. The media’s job is to spread information in a negative direction so that we, as a nation, feel angry and fearful. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. We know through the Bible that God is our only hope. Turn off the TV and turn on God’s Word.
If you find yourself feeling angry or indifferent towards the world after consuming too much media, it’s time to learn to love others more. Truly loving others means striking a healthy balance between telling the truth and being gracious and compassionate. Ask the Lord to give you discernment as to when it is appropriate to do both. The more you rely on God, the more you will be able to see people through God’s eyes. Doing so will give you true insight into how to love others.
Christians are responsible for their own spiritual growth. It is not limited to a few minutes a day. Rather, it should be a lifestyle. By incorporating the above suggestions, you will have grown by leaps and bounds by the end of next year.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema
Michelle S. Lazurek is an award-winning multi-genre author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother. She is a literary agent with Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spiritual Reset podcast. Her new children’s book, Hall of Faith, encourages children to understand that God can be trusted. When I’m not working, I enjoy drinking Starbucks lattes, collecting 80’s memorabilia, and spending time with my family and dog. For more information, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.
