Spiritual growth is the process of becoming more like Jesus Christ. It involves developing self-identity, nurturing meaningful relationships with others and/or with a higher power, communing with nature, and recognizing transcendence and unity. Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey of growing in faith to know more about God and become the person that He created you to be. It is a process of making us more like Him, conforming us to His image.
Spiritual growth can be reflected through our actions. We can ask ourselves, are we living more for God and less for ourselves? Have our thoughts and actions toward others and God shifted or have they remained the same since the start of our relationship with Christ? The characteristics of spiritual maturity make us productive and effective in serving God. The fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, should increasingly become evident in a believer’s life.
To grow spiritually, we need to make sure we possess a true spiritual life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can start by asking Jesus for help, just like the man in Mark 9 did. He will honor our request and efforts to grow closer to him. Some other ways we can promote spiritual growth include:
- Increasing our knowledge and understanding of Gods Word
- Decreasing our frequency and severity of sin
- Increasing our practice of Christ-like qualities
- Increasing our faith and trust in God
- Distinguishing between natural growth and spiritual growth
- Delighting in the beauty of process and presence
- Guarding against the trap of using progress and product to determine our self-worth
- Seeking community with other believers
Spiritual growth is a journey that depends on our study and application of God’s Word and our walk in the Spirit. It is a process and a journey that requires grace, truth, and time. As we seek spiritual growth, we should pray to God and ask for wisdom concerning the areas He desires us to grow in.
