Spiritual growth is a personal
journey that people have defined in different ways. Some people imagine
spiritual growth as a way to connect with God. They find meaning in their lives
by going to church and doing good things for the world around them.
What Does Spirituality Indicate In The Bible?
We cannot talk about
spirituality or spiritual growth without making references to the Bible. It is
the book that connects Christians to the spiritual life that God wants us to
live.
Essentially, we are spirit
beings, because we are created in the image and the likeness of God. If God is
a spirit according to John 4:24, and we are created after His likeness, then we
are spirits too. The Bible recorded in Genesis 2:7 that God formed man out of
the dust of the earth. That is, our physical form comes from the earth. This is
to enable us to live comfortably here on earth. The real person that we are,
our spirit man, comes from God. We are spirit beings with living souls, housed
in a physical body.
Man’s spiritual connection to
God was cut off when he sinned in the garden. This is symbolized by God driving
man out of Eden, as described in the Bible. This led to more sins and all manner
of evils which we are still seeing and doing to date.
God wanted to reconnect us
back to him. Hence He sent Jesus into the world to die for the sin of man, to
shed his blood and rescue man from the impending eternal doom which man has
been condemned to.
The coming of Jesus paved the
way to get our lost spirituality back. The life that Jesus lived on earth is to
show us by example how to live as a spirit being, though in the flesh.To have a
spiritual life and to grow in it is to know Christ, to have his life in you,
and live by his words, and leading.
What Are The 3 Keys To Spiritual Growth?
Spiritual growth starts from
the point when you give your life to Christ. A new life starts in you which
moves you to become more like Christ in all that you do. The Bible says Jesus
is the author and the finisher of our faith, so we are to strive to become like
him.
The more you become like
Christ in your character, the more you grow spiritually. This we should do
until we grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ. The keys to spiritual
growth include:
1.
Be
born again
Jesus told Nicodemus, one of
the elders and a Pharisee in Israel that except a man be born again, he cannot
see the Kingdom of God. This signifies the means through which we can be
accepted by God. To be born again means when a sinner recognizes his faults and
calls upon God for forgiveness. The Bible says when we confess our sins to God,
He is faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. That starts a new life which is the spiritual life that takes
us closer to God
2.
Be
filled with the Holy Spirit
After salvation comes real
spiritual growth. That is, getting more knowledge about God which will lead us
to please Him daily in all that we are doing.
What can make this possible is
the Holy Spirit. This we receive immediately we are saved. He is to teach us
more about the things of God. The more we obey Him, the greater and deeper our
spiritual experience becomes, and the more we grow in spirit.
3.
Obey
Christ
Jesus said, “you are my
friend if you do whatever I tell you ” When you obey Christ you are
pleasing God. He will make more grace available to you so that you can get help
from people, prayers answered, and your needs met.
Jesus is the light of the
world. Anyone that walks by the light of Jesus cannot miss his way in life. The
more that light guides you the more you grow in the things of the spirit. That
light guides the disciples of Jesus until they became spiritual giants. They
defended their faith and refused to compromise even when threatened with death.
Why Do We Need Spiritual Growth?
Spiritual growth is the
process of becoming a better version of yourself. It is a process of becoming a
person who is more loving, kind, and caring. It is a process of overcoming your
fears and finding peace in God.
When you become spiritually
mature, you will have a deeper understanding of many issues of life. You will
have access to some secrets of God which He does not reveal to the spiritually
immature. That is a great privilege indeed. After all, while others may be
crying or agitating because of certain problems, you will be calm because you
know the solution.
Spiritual growth is a lifelong
journey that can take you to the highest level of happiness and success. The spiritual
controls the physical. Ability to know the things of the spirit will help to
settle many things in the spiritual realm before they manifest in the physical.
When you grow spiritually, it
doesn’t mean that you become perfect. This growth requires effort and
discipline. Every day you must choose to be compassionate, positive, and
forgiving no matter what life throws at you.
Achieving spiritual growth is
not what you can do instantly, it takes a gradual process. You have to learn,
persevere, be patient, prayerful, and exercise your faith. In all, God is
merciful, loving, and compassionate. When He sees your effort, He will reward
you. Blessed are they that thirst and hunger after righteousness for they shall
be filled?