How To Deepen Your Spiritual Life

The spiritual journey—and the resulting “spiritual awakening” we seek—always appears to take place in some exotic location or following a spectacular incident.

Perhaps you believe you need to travel to Peru to drink ayahuasca or leave your spouse to get the spiritual awakening you seek?

From the comfort of your own home, you may connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you over and over again throughout your life.

How do you grow spiritually?

1. Begin by humbling yourself and praying.

It's all too easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget how fortunate we are. You may maintain these positives in your mind by taking time in the morning (and again before you go to sleep at night).

Request that God continue to bless and protect you and your loved ones. This is also a good moment to ask Him for assistance in keeping your mind on His plan for your life. When we ask Him a question, we may find that we immediately see opportunities in front of us.

2. Study and Read the Bible

Consider your Bible to be a manual. The pages contain more information about how to live your life than you may realize. Proverbs and the letters to the churches (such as Ephesians and Philippians) instruct you on how to live a Christian life. Life lessons abound in the Bible.

The teachings of Jesus can be found throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and then the teachings of the disciples may be found throughout the rest of the New Testament. The Old Testament tells you about Jesus' ancestors as well as stories of people who had strong faith. The more you grow in God's Word, the less external influences will cause you to stumble.

If you have the opportunity, try to delve thoroughly into a particular book, either in a group Bible study session or online, in order to gather some truth nuggets. This will also help you understand how this fact affects your life.

3. Find a group of believers who share your beliefs.

Depending on where you live, you might be able to find Christian groups that meet for a variety of reasons. Christian book clubs, Christian counseling groups, and faith-based exercise courses are examples of this.

There's a cliché that says you become like the five people you spend the most time with. Choose persons who have a deep relationship with God and can assist you in your spiritual development as a Christian.

4. Help Others

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them,” Jesus stated in Matthew 7:12, “because this is the Law and the Prophets” (New King James Version).

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We've all heard the command, but how many of us actually do it? And what does it mean to serve others in order to get closer to God?

While on Earth, Jesus demonstrated how God wants us to live by caring for and serving others. Will people betray and injure us? Yes. They also harmed and betrayed Jesus. He continued to reach out to people and point them to God. We are feeding Jesus' chosen by feeding and clothing the destitute. “Feed my sheep,” Jesus stated to Peter after three times asking if he loved Him.

Please feed my sheep. It is our duty to look after others and to serve as the Lord's hands and feet. The key to a closer connection with God is obedience. “If you love me, observe my commands,” Jesus stated. (New International Version, John 14:15).

This does not, however, imply that if you are a victim of abuse, you must keep your arms in the fire. You can forgive others while maintaining a healthy distance from harmful connections. If you need assistance, talk to a Christian Counselor who can guide you toward a Christian lifestyle with healthy relationships.

5. Find out what spiritual gifts you have.

Each Christian has been given spiritual gifts, according to the Bible. Did you know that this can imply more than bodily healing and the ability to speak in tongues? Those are two of the most important biblical gifts.

You've also been given discernment, wisdom, faith, knowledge, and the fruits of the Spirit, which include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Some of the gifts are related to your mission. You can improve these abilities by engaging in particular activities. You can focus on aligning your spiritual gifts with your purpose and serving others as a means of deepening your relationship with God if you are aware of the spiritual gifts that God has given you.

These are your innate abilities and characteristics. Do you enjoy assisting others, whether it's through home visits or meal preparation? Do you have a natural aptitude for teaching? Do you regularly share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others?

Other spiritual gifts that you may discover in yourself or others include:

• Are you the person that everyone looks to in a crisis? Are you more of a take-charge leader than a follower?
• Administration – Do you enjoy leading a church function when no one else is available? Are you prone to delegating duties and organizing groups and events?
• Does it concern you when someone reads Scripture out of context when you're teaching? Do you ever have the feeling that you could teach others about a particular subject?
• Evangelism – Do you often share the good news of Jesus Christ with others? Do you coach others on how to do the same?
• Shepherding – Can you educate or lead while caring for and serving others? Do you feel a sense of responsibility for the persons God has entrusted to your care?
• Prophecy – Do you believe the Holy Spirit gives you special insight into a person or a group of people? Are you confident in your ability to express Biblical truths?
• Do you prioritize serving the needs of others in your church and community when you serve? Do you enjoy working on projects that require you to be hands-on?
• Mercy– Do you sympathize with those who are in pain and looking for solace? Is it possible for you to provide a safe haven for a friend who is grieving or in pain?
• Exhortation — Do you offer practical, Bible-based advice to people? Can you see the bigger picture and propose answers to a problem?
• Giving – Do you go beyond tithes and offerings to find methods to financially help ministries? Do you spend your time and money anonymously in order to build God's kingdom rather than to “show off”?

Consider visiting with a Spiritual Development Counselor who can assist you in developing a strategy to further each of your gifts. You may focus on serving others while also achieving your purpose if you discover the top three gifts God has given you for ministry.

Everything will begin to seem aligned when you are experiencing a spiritual awakening of these gifts. Your relationship with God will improve as you continue to work on these. Find folks who share your passions and can serve as mentors. A person with the spiritual gift of teaching who also enjoys writing, for example, could collaborate with a Bible study author to create content for their church ministry.

Make a daily commitment to incorporate each of these into your spiritual development plan. Nothing matters more than your spiritual awakening and your relationship with God. We hope that as you grow in your spiritual life, you will be able to carry that confidence out into the world.

What are the 3 elements of spirituality?

In their eternal wisdom, all shamans, healers, sages, and wisdom keepers of all centuries, continents, and peoples claim that human spirituality is made up of three aspects: connections, values, and life purpose. These three components are so strongly linked that it may be difficult to tell them apart. Take a minute to ponder on each facet of human spirituality to determine the state of your spiritual well-being if this is possible. This will be a three-part monthly series, starting with relationships.

Internal (your domestic policy)—how you deal with yourself, how you nurture the relationship with yourself and your higher self—and external (your foreign policy)—how you relate, support, and interact with those people (and all living entities) in your environment—are the two categories of relationships.

What criteria would you use to assess your internal relationship, and what steps could you take to improve it?

How would you assess your external relationships, shifting from the perspective of domestic policy to international policy?

How can I be more powerful spiritually?

Seven Ways to Boost Your Spiritual Well-Being

• Examine your spiritual foundation. You are merely asking yourself questions about who you are and what you mean when you explore your spiritual essence.

How can I connect with my soul?

Do you realize you have remarkable abilities that come from your creative, intuitive, and spiritual nature? Your mind is as beautiful as a lush forest, rich with neuro-networks that connect beneath the surface, much like the roots of trees. When storm clouds form ahead of rain, scientists have seen increased chemical exchanges between these tree roots.

Our unconscious minds do the same thing, especially during times of stress, when the ego is imbued with dread, storylines and scripts from the past, which arise without warning, obscure our minds. Other woodland routes lead to charred and dead trees, while others go to tranquil meadows and stunning waterfalls. We can't see what's beneath the surface of our thinking, just as we can't see what's beneath the surface of trees and plants reaching for the sun.

This is a method for returning to one's roots and reconnecting with one's soul. To engage in this form of mindfulness, all you have to do is agree that you are not your thoughts.

Living Artfully in Five Steps

Begin by becoming a loving observer of oneself. Recognize that sensations and thoughts are neither “true” nor “false.” Allow the need to be right to fade away, and instead focus on the underlying emotions, such as fear or grief. Accept that you will be thinking and feeling a lot of different things at the same time.

Interference and commentary about your thoughts, pulling up old scars and scripts from the past, deceives you into merging with your ideas, leaving you befuddled. In other words, your thoughts had been “conned” into becoming “fused”! To avoid being “conned,” it's a good idea to “diss” (dis-identify) your thoughts.

When you've discovered your inner voice, how will you know? You'll figure it out. When you connect with your higher wisdom, it feels extremely different inside of you. And don't be surprised if you have spontaneous feelings of forgiveness or compassion when your soul offers you the direction you need.

Originally published on Holstee's Mindful Matter, the ideal place to learn about how to live life completely.

Spend time with him through prayer and by reading his word

Start by praying and reading God's word on a regular basis if you want to create a personal relationship with him. This is the most vital approach to improve your relationship with him because, in reality, no relationship can live without it. Although God is sovereign, we will never be forced to spend time with him. As a result, we must desire it and actively pursue it.

Spending time with God, on the other hand, will not always seem like a spiritual high, and it may not be as exhilarating as the worship at your Sunday morning church service. However, consider this: speaking with your significant other or even friends isn't always entertaining, but it is vital and meaningful for those relationships to thrive. It may not always be enjoyable to spend quiet time praying and studying the Bible, but it is well worth it.

Talk to God everywhere

I understand if this one appears strange. How can you talk to God wherever, or as the Bible says, “everywhere”? “Do you pray all the time?” Essentially, this means that you should always be in a prayerful mindset and that God should always be first in your heart, even during the day. So, when you have a difficult task at work, your first thought is to pray to God for assistance. Alternatively, when something wonderful occurs in your life, the first thing you do is praise God.

I adore the fact that God is a “Personal God” refers to the fact that he is close by and only responds when you have a spiritual need. Actually, I was looking for my lost digital pen last week and couldn't find it anywhere. I prayed, and a few minutes later, it was discovered in a random basket of papers I had never thought to look in! God is always with us, and he wants to know about everything – the good, the bad, the ugly, the large, and the small.

Develop a relationship with others

Our relationships with people, I believe, are critical to the development of our connection with God. This verse, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another,” is one of my favorites. 27:17 (Proverbs) We rely on one another. We can grow closer to God through learning and growing alongside like-minded Christians.

In college, I was a member of a group that met weekly for Bible study and worship. The rest of the group was reinforced in their faith and connection to God as each member shared about their experiences with God. Join a Christian group in your school, church, or in your neighborhood. You never know how much a Christian connection around you can help you strengthen your own personal relationship with God.

Listen to God's voice and practice obedience to his word

Isn't it true that a relationship is a two-way street? As a result, although talking to God is crucial, so is listening to him. The truth is that God is always speaking, but we don't always hear him. Many things can distract us, including social media, television, our friends, and even work. Make certain that no distractions are interfering with your ability to hear God's voice. I could go into greater detail on hearing God's voice, but it will have to wait for another article.

It is not sufficient to simply listen; we must also act in obedience when he speaks. I understand that the word “obedience” has a negative connotation. However, the Bible states that those who love God will obey his commands. Trusting God is a big part of obeying him. We tend to do the opposite of what he says when we don't trust him. When we don't trust someone, it's usually because we haven't built a strong bond with him yet.

Be Willing to Trust Him with your heart

Having a personal relationship with someone you don't trust is difficult. And I understand; I'm a skeptic who has trouble trusting others at times. But let me tell you something: God is dependable. You may put your faith in him with all of your heart and soul, knowing that he will never let you down.

You can also confide in him about the less-than-polite ideas and feelings that run through your mind. You may tell him when you're angry or terrified; you can trust him when you've sinned or fallen short, and you can be assured that he won't reject you. You can tell him your darkest secrets and your hidden hardships that no one else should know about. After all, he's the only one who can help you heal in the first place.

God already understands what you're going through on the inside. When you're hurting and confused of what to do, don't sugarcoat it with Christian platitudes and cliches. Tell God all you're feeling on the inside. He's God, and he's not insulted by your inner thoughts. Allow him to assist you in processing them.

Don't compare your relationship with God to that of others

In today's environment, there is a major comparison problem. I suppose that has something to do with social media and our frequent access to each other's life highlights. However, you must overcome comparison if you wish to establish a meaningful personal relationship with God. The grass isn't always greener on the other side, and your connection with God will be different from the next girl's.

I recall gathering with a group of friends for prayer while I was in high school. As they paced back and forth on the floor, some of them were praying loud, forceful prayers. Others prayed with eloquence, and I pondered why I couldn't put my thoughts together as well as they did. But God simply wanted me to pray in my own way. He didn't want to hear my best impersonation of someone else's voice; he wanted to hear my own. Our relationship with God, like prayer, is not a competition. It can't be compared to anything else. It's a special kind of relationship between God and us.

Learn how to depend on God

Finally, you must learn to rely on God if you want to have a personal relationship with him. I'm a fairly independent person that like to accomplish things on my own. But, in order to pursue a connection with God, I had to learn to rely on God for everything. This may have included praying and asking for direction before making a decision, asking him to be with me throughout the day before going for work, or asking him to give me insight in my daily talks. Developing a good relationship with God necessitates relying on him.

It takes time to build a relationship with God. It won't happen all at once, and you can think your relationship with him is strong one day and question if he's still there the next. But it's all part of the adventure. A relationship with God, like any other, is complicated. In each season, you'll learn more about him and have more opportunities to interact with him. As you get to know him better, he'll reveal more about himself and teach you more about himself.

How can I grow spiritually and mentally?

Exercising your brain entails putting it to greater use. The brain is involved in everything we do in general, but there are several activities that can specifically exercise our brains. Puzzles, games like Chess or Scrabble, math problems, learning tough topics, and other activities that test your dexterity, spatial reasoning, and logic. Doing these mental exercises on a daily basis will help you improve your intellect and strengthen neuronal connections in your brain.