Faith & Spiritual Growth: Walking the Path Toward a Deeper Relationship With God
Faith can serve as an anchor during all stages of life and under all circumstances — it provides grounding during times of chaos and direction during those times of indecision. However, faith is not merely a single decision made once and then forgotten. Rather, faith is a long-term process of continuous spiritual development and daily decisions to maintain a relationship with God.
Understanding the Journey of Faith
Spiritual development does not occur instantly. Instead, it occurs through various points of trust, learning from experiences, praying in moments of doubt and uncertainty, and experiencing the closeness of God’s heart. Growth through faith also involves an openness to be taught, stretched, refined and changed. As we develop a relationship with God, he will continue to guide us in greater depth and understanding and help us understand his characteristics and provide us with ways to express his love in the midst of our daily living.
ESTABLISHING A FIRM Foundation
All strong relationships with God are founded upon a strong foundation of relationship and habit. These include:
- Developing a routine of daily prayer — not just speaking to God, but also allowing him to speak to us through his word, and minister to our hearts.
- Reading scripture (the Bible) — studying God’s promises and allowing our thoughts to be aligned with His truths.
- Finding time for worship — creating space in our lives to be grateful, reverent and to renew our perspectives.
- Being part of a community of believers — surrounding ourselves with people who encourage, challenge and inspire us.
None of these habits will make our faith perfect, but they will prepare us to stand firmly in our faith when the world around us becomes overwhelming.
Embracing God’s Process of Growth
God’s plan for our spiritual development typically takes place in seasons. While some seasons are filled with great clarity and strength, others may appear to be moving very slowly. Regardless of which type of season you find yourself in, there is always a purpose. God uses each season to increase our patience, to build our trust and to develop our character. At times, spiritual development requires us to act in faith; at other times it calls us to wait patiently for God’s timing. Regardless of the season you are currently in, understand that you are being intentionally developed and shaped by God in the midst of both the active and quiet moments.
Walking With God Daily
Our ability to develop a deepening relationship with God develops through the simple and intentional decisions we make each and every day to choose faith instead of fear, to obey God rather than follow what is easy and convenient for us, and to surrender our will to God rather than rely solely upon ourselves. When we create space for God in our daily routines and decisions, we begin to see His peace, wisdom and guidance much clearer. Our perspective will be forever changed as we come to view problems/challenges as opportunities, failures/setbacks as lessons and blessings as reminders of God’s faithfulness.
Your Journey Matters
Regardless of whether you have recently begun to explore your faith, are rebuilding after losing sight of your faith or simply desire to deepen your relationship with God, your journey is important to Him. God will meet you exactly where you are and lovingly guide you in the right direction. Your spiritual development is not about achieving perfection, but about making progress. It is about choosing God over and over again in each and every moment and decision you make and in every season of your life.
It is often in the quiet moments of life that God speaks the loudest. The quiet moments of life remind us that spiritual development is not something that happens quickly or by force. It is something that develops gradually, day-by-day, as we learn to live in the presence of God. When we pause to catch our breath and reflect, we open our hearts to God’s guidance, comfort and peace.
Each and every step we take with God brings us into a greater understanding and a stronger relationship with Him. Whether the path ahead appears unclear, God’s light precedes us, illuminating the road that lies before us. As we walk with God, He causes us to see common moments in our lives as opportunities for spiritual development, and reminds us that we are never alone on this journey of faith.
As we continue to seek God with open hearts, we realize that spiritual development is not about arriving at a certain point in our journey, but about enjoying the journey itself. As we pray, as we take steps in faith, and as we give over each moment to God, we move closer and closer to the life that God has created for us. Regardless of where you find yourself today, know that God is using your story to achieve His purposes. Continue to walk with God, believe in God, and allow your faith to lead you into a deeper relationship, renewed strength and unshakeable hope.