As the new year approaches, it's natural to begin thinking about habits that will help us live better lives. Our natural tendency is to begin by thinking about how we might enhance our bodies, so we make resolutions about our diets and make good intentions to exercise. We also recognize the need of mental nourishment, therefore we observe the practice of reading a new book or enrolling in a class. Finding strategies to attend to our spirituality, on the other hand, is far more difficult.
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It's crucial to start by figuring out what spirituality means to you. Spirituality, in my opinion, is our longing to be closer to God. Accepting that we will never know everything is the first step in strengthening our spirituality. Faith requires us to open ourselves up to questions we may never be able to fully answer.
The spirit is something we can't see, yet we believe in it anyhow. Everyone have a spirit. When someone dies, we examine the physical body and recognize that what is left is the spirit. We won't be able to see it till it's gone. The lack of the spirit, then, is what determines its presence.
It is possible to put our spirituality to work in real ways that we can practice. Here are my top five ideas for being more spiritual in the new year:
Pray.
Prayer is the first step in growing spiritually and putting your faith into action. Be brave enough to ask for what your heart desires, and patient enough to wait for a response. Christians recognize that when Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven,” he was teaching them the prayer that encompasses all human needs. Say that as many times as you can to God. Offer these prayers and inquiries to God in private prayer. Then you have to wait. Listen. Recognize that God will answer your prayers. Becoming more spiritual is learning to wait, learning to listen, realizing that listening takes patience, and accepting that the answer to our prayers may be “no” or “not yet.”
Show Up.
The discipline of showing up allows us to exercise our spirituality. Presence is the way we show that something or someone is important enough for us to pay attention to.
For Christians, the most common form of spirituality is attending church for an hour on Sunday mornings once a week. This is a lovely technique that allows you to engage your mind, body, and soul all at the same time in a group context. This is a means to join with others who, rather than asking, “How are you?” inquire, “How is it with your soul?” When joys and anxieties are prayed for in church, you'll hear something you'll never hear in casual conversation: “I'm worried about my job.” “I'm worried about my mother's well-being.” “My marriage is on the rocks, and we need your help.” Even in its most archaic and ritualized form, church-going has a way of connecting us to one another as spiritual beings and to God as the giver of all spirit.
Reading scripture allows us to pay attention to those who have shared their own spiritual journeys and how God interacts with the world. The purpose of Scripture is to communicate a real tale about how God interacts with us. When my church hands out Bibles to kids, I tell them, “This is a tale about how much God loves you.” God would not remain remote, therefore he chose to enter the world in the most humble of ways, so that we would not have to go through anything that God had not gone through. As a result, reading the Bible's stories is also reading about God's decision to become present with us via the person of Jesus.
Be generous with your time and talents.
The Christmas gift-giving season reminds us of the tremendous feeling of generosity. What if you continued this practice in different ways in the coming year? Consider the gifts you have to give not just your money, but your skills as well. The world yearns for us to offer our gifts.
Take inventory of your skills and interests, as well as the things that bring you delight. Find reasons to do them more often, not only for your own benefit, but also for the benefit of others. Don't be afraid to share your gifts with the world; you never know how they can help others.
Find ways to serve others.
The most fundamental commandments, according to our faith, are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. As much as you love yourself, you should also love your neighbor. Seeing others as they are as humans with the same hopes for their lives as you is the first step towards loving your neighbor.
You know how powerful it is to offer oneself in service to others if you've ever taken the time to volunteer in a method that directly links you with someone in need. This is a humbling event, and many people will report that they came expecting to benefit others but left feeling blessed.
You can speak with your local church or conduct study about the needs of your neighborhood.
Tell Somebody!
My current favorite joke is: “How can you tell if someone is a Cross Fitter? They'll let you know.”
Be a spokesman for your practice, just as advocates for Cross Fit or Whole 30, who have embraced a radical and high-commitment approach to caring for their bodies. Tell others about your decision to strengthen what most people can't see. You'll start having talks and interactions that will aid you in your spiritual development.
Imagine telling someone you're committing to asking the question, “Who is God, and how am I to know God?” for the next year.
Spirituality and faith are mystical and lovely things. In addition, they raise more questions than they answer. Being more spiritual entails being at ease with doubt, uncertainty, and curiosity. To engage our faith as Christians, we must be willing to come together as people who want to undertake this job together, as people who want to listen and respond to God.
May these habits bring you closer to God in the new year, and may they renew your mind, body, and spirit for all of life's challenges.
How can a Christian become more spiritual?
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.
How can I grow my spirituality?
1. Read literature that are spiritual and encouraging.
Consider what you've read and how you may put it to good use in your life.
2. Every day, meditate for at least 15 minutes.
If you don't know how to meditate, there are plenty of books, websites, and people who can teach you.
3. Develop the ability to relax your mind.
4. You are more than your physical self.
Recognize that you are a spirit with a physical body, not a spirit with a physical body. If you can accept this concept, it will alter your perspective on people, life, and the events and situations you encounter.
5. Take a look at yourself.
Examine yourself and your thinking frequently to discover what it is that makes you feel conscious and alive.
What are Christian spiritual practices?
Prayer, fasting, reading through the Christian Bible with a daily devotional, frequent church attendance, constant partaking of the sacraments, such as the Eucharist, careful observance of the Lord's Day (cf. Sunday Sabbatarianism), visiting and praying at a church, offering daily prayer at one's home altar while kneeling at a prie-dieu, making a Spiritual Communion are all examples of spiritual disciplines in Christianity.
Chastity, confession, fasting, fellowship, frugality, giving, guidance, hospitality, humility, intimacy, meditation, prayer, Quiet Time, reflection, self-control, servanthood, service, simplicity, singing, slowing, solitude, study, submission, surrender, teaching, and worship are examples of spiritual disciplines.
Certain spiritual practices are stressed at different seasons of the Church Year in the Christian liturgical calendar. For example, during Advent, the calendar's first liturgical season, Christians of many faiths pray through a daily devotional, as well as mark an Advent calendar and light an Advent wreath, in preparation for the arrival of Christmastide. Many Christians (particularly Catholics, Methodists, and Anglicans) observe the Friday Fast, perform the Stations of the Cross, keep a Lenten calendar, and make a Lenten sacrifice such as abstaining from alcohol and practicing teetotalism during Lent, the season preceding Eastertide.
Various spiritual disciplines are emphasized by certain Christian faiths. The Catholic Church values spiritual disciplines such as praying the rosary, doing bodily and spiritual acts of compassion, and performing acts of reparation. In Methodism, works of charity and works of piety are spiritual disciplines that must be practiced in order to be sanctified. Quiet worship is practiced by the Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as the Quakers), which is punctuated by vocal ministry. Because Quakers have little to no religion or doctrine, their practices make up a big part of their collective identity.
Richard Foster, a well-known author on Christian spiritual practices, has stressed that Christian meditation focuses on the filling up of the mind or self with God, rather than the emptying of the mind or self.
How can I practice spirituality with God?
Spirituality can be found in all civilizations and traditions. Ordinary, everyday activities can help you put your spirituality into practice in your daily life. Discover how different spiritual disciplines nurture spirituality, as well as five techniques to advance your spiritual growth.
Learn what spirituality is
Prayer, meditation, chanting, breathing exercises, and ceremonies or rituals are all examples of spiritual practices or spiritual disciplines. Your regular interactions with other people are also part of your spirituality and spiritual life.
How can I grow spiritually without religion?
5 Ways To Find Spirituality Without Going To Church
- Know that you don't need to travel to India, Bali, or the Amazon jungle to find your inner peace.
What are the 7 spiritual disciplines?
Spiritual disciplines are practices that are intended to help people change their lives. Their goal is to help us grow spiritually as Christ's disciples and improve our relationship with God. They're similar to spiritual training activities. However, just like any other form of exercise, we must choose to perform it on a regular basis in order to feel or see the benefits. So, what are these practices, exactly? Consider the following lists from two of the most influential publications on the subject from the twentieth century:
Dallas Willard's The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives
- Abstinence disciplines include seclusion, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, confidentiality, and sacrifice.
- Study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, and submission are the disciplines of engagement.
As you can see, there are a variety of ways to structure these lists of spiritual disciplines, as well as which disciplines are included. So, how did these practices come to be? Because they've endured the test of time, the majority of them are considered spiritual disciplines. Finally, Christians have decided to incorporate these disciplines into their spiritual lives because they are practices that Jesus himself practiced or taught about, according to the Bible.